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'ND Rodeo' (PVP no. 202300270; Reg. no. CV‐356, PI 703020) is a new slow‐darkening (SD) pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Pinto bean is the largest market class grown in the United States, representing over 47% of the total US production for dry beans, and more than 70% is produced in North Dakota. SD pinto beans offer a good alternative to commercial cultivars of regular darkening (RD) pinto beans, which are typically subject to the risk of economic losses due to seed coat darkening. However, reaching seed yields comparable to RD pintos has been challenging. Between 2017 and 2022, ND Rodeo was tested across 25 environments in North Dakota, where seed yield was significantly higher than the SD pinto cultivars 'ND Palomino' and 'Vibrant' (18% and 22%, respectively), and comparable with RD pinto cultivars 'La Paz' and 'Monterrey'. ND Rodeo is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight, but similar to the commercial checks, it is susceptible to local races/strains of white mold, anthracnose, and rust pathogens. ND Rodeo has an average height of 56 cm which is significantly higher than the average of ND Palomino, Vibrant, and La Paz, and exhibits a desirable upright architecture to facilitate direct harvest. It has a 100‐seed weight of 36.2 g and matures in 102 days. Canning quality was rated as acceptable. Core Ideas: Pinto bean is the most widely grown dry bean market class in the United States.Slow‐darkening pinto beans retain their light cream background seed coat color after harvest.Achieving seed yields comparable to RD pintos has been challenging.Improvements in slow‐darkening pinto bean productivity, upright plant architecture, disease resistance, and seed quality characteristics have been accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Redbarn' (PVP. no. 202300271; Reg. no. CV‐357, PI 703021) is a new dark red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released in 2023 by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Compared to other market classes, kidney beans usually command higher prices. However, kidney beans are less productive than other market classes. Minnesota is the largest dark red kidney bean producer in the United States, accounting for ∼90% of the total production in 2022. ND Redbarn was released based on its good adaptation to this region, higher seed yield, large seed size, and desirable seed shape characteristics. Between 2012 and 2021, ND Redbarn was tested across 16 environments in Minnesota, where seed yield was significantly higher than commercial checks 'Montcalm', 'Red Hawk', and 'Talon' (14%, 27%, and 9%, respectively) and comparable with 'Dynasty'. ND Redbarn is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight. ND Redbarn exhibits higher field tolerance to the root rot fungal complex infection compared to Montcalm, Red Hawk, and Talon, and is similar to Dynasty. ND Redbarn has shown higher levels of tolerance to white mold than Montcalm and Red Hawk. Under Minnesota environments, ND Redbarn shows an average plant height of 51 cm, has a 100‐seed weight of 50.4 g, and matures in approximately 99 days. The canning quality for Redbarn is within acceptable commercial ranges. Core Ideas: Dark red kidney bean is the most predominant market class in Minnesota, which accounts for ∼90% of the total US production.Dark red kidney beans are known to be less productive than other bean market classes, but they respond extremely well to good agronomic management.Strict industry and consumer requirements in terms of visual seed quality for kidney beans hinders genetic progress for this market class.Improvements in dark red kidney bean productivity, disease resistance, and size and shape have been accomplished in the new cultivar ND Redbarn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Polar' (Reg. no. CV‐349, PI 700767) is a new navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. ND Polar was developed using a modified pedigree method (F1–F5), followed by pure line selection based on agronomic performance, disease resistance, and seed quality characteristics. With ∼16% of the total dry bean production in the United States, navy bean is the third most important market class after pinto and black. Accounting for 35% of the total production, North Dakota is the largest producer of dry bean in the United States. Between 2015 and 2021, ND Polar was tested across 23 environments in North Dakota, where seed yield was significantly higher than 'HMS Medalist', 'Blizzard', and 'Ensign' and similar to 'T9905'. ND Polar is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight. ND Polar has desirable upright architecture to facilitate direct harvest. Under North Dakota environments, ND Polar shows an average plant height of 52 cm, has a 100‐seed weight of 18.3 g, and matures in 102 days. Canning quality was rated as acceptable. Similar to the commercial checks, ND Polar is susceptible to local races/strains of the bean rust pathogen, anthracnose, and white mold. Other traits of agronomic and economic importance are within acceptable ranges. Core Ideas: Navy bean is an economically important market class of dry bean in the United States.Improvements in navy bean productivity have been more challenging than other market classes.ND Polar offers improved seed yield thanks to its overall agronomic performance and productivity.ND Polar is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection during plant domestication and improvement often decreases genetic variation, including variation that confers adaptation to local conditions. We report spatial and temporal variation in fitness (seed yield), local adaptation, and segregating genetic variation within three races of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with differing domestication histories and genetic diversities. Three‐hundred and twenty‐seven common bean genotypes had seed yield measured at subsets of 70 sites across North America between 1981 and 2015, as part of the Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery (CDBN). We estimated local adaptation using the metric home field advantage (HFA) and segregating genetic variation using heritability. The Durango and Mesoamerican races (Middle American genepool) had higher‐than‐expected (p =.002) HFA, equal to up to 34 yr of average yield gains. Surprisingly, Nueva Granada (Andean genepool) and Durango yields became more heritable across the study period (p <.001), while Mesoamerican heritability decreased (p <.001). Both metrics detected diversity loss corresponding to the timings of major historical gene introgressions. Local adaptation remains an agronomically important phenomenon within some common bean races. Common bean adaptation to new conditions will be most rapid at locations with large local adaptation benefits and high heritability. Core Ideas: Selection history affects genetic variation, which enables adapting crops to new environments and climates.We report spatiotemporal variation in dry bean yield, local adaptation, and segregating genetics.Yields became more heritable in two of three dry bean races across North America over 35 yr.Local adaptation (home field advantage) was worth up to 34 yr of average breeding gains.Sites with high heritability and home field advantage are best for adapting to new environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Twilight' (Reg. no. CV‐332, PI 693268; PVP‐202000258) is a new black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. ND Twilight was developed using a modified pedigree method (F1–F5), followed by pure line selection based on agronomic, disease, and quality traits, along with specific DNA markers. With ∼24% of the total dry bean production in the United States, black bean is the second most important market class after pinto. Accounting for ∼35% of the total production, North Dakota is the largest producer of dry bean in the United States. However, both biotic and abiotic stresses are the main factors responsible for seed yield reductions. Between 2014 and 2019, ND Twilight was tested across more than 21 environments in North Dakota, where seed yield was significantly different from 'Zorro' and similar to 'Eclipse' and 'Loreto'. ND Twilight is resistant to the most common race (20‐3) of the bean rust pathogen and Bean common mosaic virus. It also has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight and to soybean cyst nematode (HG Type 0). ND Twilight has desirable upright architecture (Type IIa). Under North Dakota conditions, ND Twilight shows an average plant height of 49 cm, has a 100‐seed weight of 19.7 g, and matures in ∼99 d. Canning quality was rated as acceptable. Other traits of agronomic and economic importance are within acceptable commercial ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow‐darkening (SD) pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) possess a desirable new trait, conditioned by the recessive sd gene, that slows seed coat darkening under delayed harvest and under storage. The effect sd may have on performance needs investigation. We examined agronomic performance and cooking quality of SD pinto beans. There were 30 (15 SD and 15 regular darkening [RD]) recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from each of two biparental inbred populations. The 60 RILs were tested across three locations in North Dakota and Washington. In addition, advanced SD and RD pinto breeding lines were tested in trials from 2010 to 2012 and in 2018. Across 2010–2012 trials, the "early generation bred" SD pintos, as a group, had significantly lower emergence, increased lodging, less seed yield, and smaller seed size than the RD group. Conversely, in the 2018 trial, "recently bred" SD pinto breeding lines had competitive agronomic performance to RD lines for seed yield, reduced lodging, and increased emergence. Further research on cooking time is warranted given that SD RILs cooked 20% faster than the RD RILs in one population. Overall, SD pintos exhibited slightly better canning quality than RD pintos. Whether raw or cooked, SD pintos were much lighter in color than RD pintos, emphasizing the need to keep them separated as distinct market classes. Breeders should continue to focus on improving agronomic performance for emergence, lodging, seed yield, seed size, and canning quality of SD pinto beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Whitetail' (Reg. no. CV‐327, PI 690447; PVP‐201900175) is a new white kidney bean cultivar developed by the dry bean breeding program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Within the Andean gene pool, kidney beans are the most economically important market classes worldwide, with dark‐red kidney bean being the most commonly grown class, followed by light‐red and white kidneys. There is an increased interest in white kidney bean in the United States, mostly stimulated by novel research claiming additional health benefits related to its consumption. However, biotic and abiotic stresses still limit the full seed yield potential of kidney bean cultivars. Averaged across environments, the seed yield of ND Whitetail was significantly higher by 650, 976, and 459 kg ha−1 than 'Beluga', 'Silver Cloud', and 'Snowdon', respectively. ND Whitetail has an average plant height of 52 cm and matures in approximately 101 d. Results from canning tests showed that ND Whitetail received a canning score of 5.1. ND Whitetail has high levels of resistance to white mold and Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) along with intermediate resistance to bacterial diseases. Given the superior seed yield quality and agronomic performance, useful agronomic traits such as seed size, BCMV resistance, white mold and halo blight resistance, and superior canning quality, ND Whitetail could become an important white kidney cultivar in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Pegasus' great northern bean (PVP‐201900176, Reg. no. CV‐328, PI 690448) is a new cultivar developed by the dry bean breeding program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Great northern bean is a market class of significant economic importance in the United States. In North Dakota especially, biotic and abiotic stresses are the main factors for seed yield reductions. Between 2013 and 2018, ND Pegasus, along with great northern cultivars commonly grown in the region, was tested across more than 35 environments in North Dakota and other states. Seed yield of ND Pegasus was significantly higher by 560, 414, and 571 kg ha‐1 compared with 'Matterhorn', 'Aries', and 'Powderhorn', respectively. However, seed yield of ND Pegasus and 'Taurus' were similar. ND Pegasus has an excellent upright architecture that improves the efficiency of direct harvest. Based on greenhouse and DNA marker data, ND Pegasus is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has improved resistance to white mold. ND Pegasus has excellent seed quality (color, shape, and size) and is larger than most commercial cultivars commonly grown in the region. ND Pegasus has acceptable canning quality based on some pilot testing. The average plant height of ND Pegasus is 71 cm, and 100‐seed weight 36.8 g. It matures in approximately 103 d. Other agronomic traits of economic importance are within commercial acceptable ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'ND Falcon' pinto bean (PVP‐201900174, Reg. no. CV‐326, PI 690446) is a new cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Pinto bean is the most important dry bean market class in the United States. North Dakota is the largest producer of dry bean in the country, where ∼50% of production is pinto bean. Both biotic and abiotic stresses are the main factors responsible for seed yield reductions. Between 2013 and 2018, ND Falcon was tested across more than 22 environments in North Dakota. Averaged across environments, seed yield of ND Falcon was not significantly different from commonly grown pinto bean cultivars in the region. Nonetheless, ND Falcon is resistant to the most common race (20‐3) of the bean rust pathogen and to soybean cyst nematode (HG Type 0). Therefore, a seed yield advantage under disease pressure would be expected for ND Falcon compared with other pinto bean cultivars while eliminating or reducing the need for fungicide and/or nematicide applications. ND Falcon has desirable upright architecture (type IIa) with short vines. Under North Dakota conditions, ND Falcon shows an average plant height of 53 cm, has a 100‐seed weight of 37.0 g, and matures in approximately 103 d. Other traits of agronomic or economic importance are within acceptable commercial ranges for pinto bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ideotype breeding strategy to improve an economically important trait is achievable if subcomponent phenotypes most associated with the trait are targeted for selection. The success of this strategy in modern breeding history can be highlighted in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), where an enhancement in dry bean production was facilitated in the last 25 yr by replacing Type III prostrate growth habit with Type II upright growth habit. This growth habit leads to disease avoidance and enables cost-effective management practices. To better understand the ideotype breeding trajectory in dry bean, and guarantee further improvements, we characterized 16 traits at three locations using a panel consisting of 122 genotypes with different growth habits. Among the growth habit types, significant differences were detected for seven architectural traits, three seed yield (SY) traits, and one phenological trait. Genetic variance was greater in the Type II genotypes than the Type III genotypes for five of the significant traits, including canopy height (CNH) and SY. Furthermore, in Type II genotypes, moderate narrow-sense heritability was detected for CNH, lodging (LDG), plant length (PL), and stem diameter (STD), suggesting positive gain can be made for growth habit from crosses between Type II genotypes. A network analysis of Type II genotypes revealed these four traits are highly correlated, and suggests possible genetic relatedness among the traits. Breeders often use CNH as a selection criterion, and the positive correlation between this trait and STD suggests a possible anatomical mechanism responsible for the more upright plant types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing soil-N in a dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop may increase seed yield. However, excessive N can inhibit nodule formation, delay maturity, and promote vegetative growth. In the same way, the effect of row spacing on yield and other traits appears to be different for variable levels of available N. With releases of new upright pinto bean cultivars, it is unknown how factors such as row spacing and soil-N level may affect seed yield and seed losses under direct harvest operations. Experiments were conducted in North Dakota to evaluate the effect of row spacing and soil-N level on agronomic traits of pinto bean cultivars under direct harvest. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement, where whole plots were three row spacings (30, 46, and 76cm), and subplots were a factorial with three pinto cukivars (Lariat, Stampede, and Maverick) and two soil-N levels (56 and 112 kg N ha-1). Cultivar and row spacing were the most important factors determining seed yield and seed loss. Lariat produced the greatest seed yield (2045 kg ha-1) and had the lowest harvest loss (11.6%). The intermediate row spacing (46 cm) had the highest seed yield with no significant changes in the amount of seed loss when compared with the wide rows (76 cm). The N level did not influence seed yield or yield potential. Therefore, to maximize productivity with upright pinto cukivars, growers should plant at intermediate row spacing and reduce the amount of N applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Dakota is the leading producer of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the United States. In order to remain competitive, growers need to find ways to optimize yields and minimize input costs. Direct harvest may decrease equipment investment, harvest time, and operational costs when compared with conventional methods. However, direct harvest is often associated with reduced seed yield and quality. Experiments were conducted at four environments in North Dakota to evaluate the harvest efficiency of nine dry bean cultivars representing three market classes. Seed yield, seed loss, and other agronomic/morphological traits were measured using a split plot design. Harvest method and cultivar were consistently the most important factors contributing to seed yield and seed loss. Seed yield was significantly greater (830 kg ha-1) with the conventional method and seed loss was significantly greater (23.2%) under direct harvest. For conventional harvest, there was no difference in seed yield among cultivars within a market class. However, under direct harvest, one pinto (Lariat) and two black bean (T-39 and Eclipse) cultivars showed the highest yield. There were no differences among the navy cultivars for seed yield. Lariat was the most efficient cultivar across and within both harvest methods, with the best combination of highest yield (2232 kg ha-1) and lowest seed loss (11.1%). None of the morphological traits measured had a strong association with seed yield or seed loss. Results indicate that for optimal yields, growers need to select a cultivar with the best harvest efficiency possible, in addition to other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]