Better beans for a changing climate
Short description
The aim of the project is to study the genetic regulation of water use and drought tolerance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), for development of new cultivars that will produce high yields in a future drier climate. The region in focus is Rwanda and neighboring countries in East Africa.
Even though water availability is one of the most limiting factors for agricultural production, water use and drought tolerance have not been prioritized in modern crop breeding. Selection for high yields has often resulted in high water use and poor stress tolerance.
Locally adapted landraces often have lower yields, but harbor traits that are valuable for climate change adaptation. We are using the large diversity of Rwandan landraces as a genetic resource for the development of new productive, stress resilient cultivars for East African agriculture
Members
Göteborgs universitet, institutionen för biologi och miljövetenskap
Mats Andersson
Karin Johansson
Diana Laura Labastida Jaimes
University of Rwanda
Donat Nsabimana
Shema Jules Maurice
Jean Pierre Muhire
Rene Aline Sibomana
Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)
Annuarite Uwera
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, IPK Gatersleben
Rhonda Meyer
