There is a long tradition of common bean cultivation in Slovenia, which has resulted in the development of numerous landraces in addition to newly established cultivars. The genetic diversity of 100 accessions from the Genebank of the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (AIS) were evaluated with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and phaseolin seed protein. Twenty-seven standard accessions of known Mesoamerican and Andean origin, 10 wild Phaseolus vulgaris accessions and two related species, P. coccineus L. and P. lunatus L., were also included. Ten AFLP primer combinations produced 303 polymorphic bands, indicating a relatively high level of genetic diversity. Based on the marker data, unweighted pair group method with arithmethic mean (UPGMA) analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) all P. vulgaris accessions were separated into three well-defined groups. Two groups consisted of accessions of Mesoamerican and Andean origin, while the third was comprised of only four wild P. vulgaris accessions. A set of Slovene accessions formed a well-defined sub-group within the Andean cluster, showing their unique genetic structure. These data were supported by phaseolin analysis, which also revealed additional variants of “C” and “T” phaseolin types. The results are in agreement with previous findings concerning diversification of common bean germplasm introduced in Europe.

Drought is one of the major threats to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), affecting its growth and productivity and, thus, contributing to considerable losses in yield in many regions worldwide. The development of varieties tolerant of drought stress has, therefore, become one of the primary goals in many common bean breeding programs. Plants have developed various mechanisms of their adaptation, to a greater or lesser extent, to drought. These are expressed, on the molecular level, by changes of gene expression and of protein content, together with responses at physiological and morphological levels. The response of common bean to drought is still not sufficiently well characterized due to its genetic complexity and its diverse, often ambiguous, phenotypic effects. Understanding these mechanisms is thus of fundamental importance for developing varieties that are better adapted to such stress conditions. In this chapter, we present research that provides an insight into the morpho-physiological adaptation and its underlying molecular changes in common bean plants exposed to drought. We include our contribution to establishing the basis for breeding of common bean with greater tolerance to this abiotic stress that uses molecular markers and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs).

Plant genetic resources (PGR) serve as the cornerstone for global varietal enhancement and food security. However, these resources face significant threats, including diversity erosion and extinction, are often inadequately conserved, and frequently remain inaccessible for practical use. Traditionally, PGR have been primarily conserved through population seed samples stored ex situ in genebanks. In contrast, complementary in situ techniques – whether involving crop wild relatives in genetic reserves or crop landraces on-farm – have largely remained experimental. The demand from breeders for a broader diversity is driving a more integrated approach that combines ex situ and in situ methods. This paper posits that such an integrated strategy would be mutually advantageous for PGR, biodiversity and farmer-based conservation communities. As a foundation for future PGR science, we propose the three 'Principles of PGR Conservation and Use Congruence' and outline the practical processes involved in in situ and on-farm conservation. We also review the challenges associated with integrating ex situ and in situ conservation, specifically addressing how collaborative resource management can be established, how potential resource users can access in situ and on-farm conserved PGR, how to promote user access to in situ conserved populations, and the progress made thus far in integrating in situ and ex situ efforts. While it is acknowledged that full integration may be unrealistic without adequate resources for Genetic Resource Centres and the rectification of skill gaps, the potential to significantly enhance the long-term, sustainable conservation of PGR diversity holds profound existential benefits for humanity in the 21st century.