Seed uniformity and stability testing, and multiplication, are key steps in the seed supply chain of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and other crops. Optimizing agronomical practices in these phases can ultimately ensure seed quality and availability, and germplasm prospective utilization. However, farmers have rarely standardized seed testing and propagation protocols in local common bean landraces conserved in situ. An example of this is the Liborino variety (var.), a promising yellow Andean common bean known for its presumably high digestibility and adaptation to the local conditions of the Cauca river canyon (northwest Andes of Colombia), but likely experiencing genetic erosion after decades of suboptimal propagation. Therefore, this work intended to evaluate and select locally adapted genotypes of common bean var. Liborino for commercial use, to be later multiplied, evaluated by participatory breeding, and eventually shared with farmers. Specifically, we evaluated 44 accessions of var. Liborino common bean in six adaption and yield field trials in the Cauca river canyon at 1100 and 1400 m a.s.l, and in AGROSAVIA’s “La Selva” research station at 2100 m a.s.l. In parallel, we carried out standardized seed multiplication of a Liborino genotype using best practices to guarantee uniformity and stability. From the 44 accessions, nine were well adapted to the tested local conditions. Four of these accessions exhibited a bush type growth habit, while the remaining five were climbers. The trials revealed maximum average extrapolated yields of up to 1169.4 ± 228.4 kg ha⁻¹ for the bush types (G8152) and up to 1720.0 ± 588.4 kg ha⁻¹ for the climbers (G51018), both at 2100 m a.s.l. Three climbing accessions matched farmers’ expectations for seed coat color and shape, according to a participatory selection exercise. Uniform and stable seed of the selected genotype was delivered in 2022 to 39 farmers, ~6.5 kg of seeds per farmer. Our results will allow implementing bean genetic improvement pipelines, promoting var. Liborino commercialization, and boosting the economic and sustainable development of the rural communities in the Cauca river canyon. Seed uniformity testing and multiplication pipelines must be extended to other bean landraces conserved in situ.

Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume pulse crop that provides significant dietary and ecosystem benefits globally. We investigated two key traits, determinacy and photoperiod sensitivity, that are integral to its management and crop production, and that were early selected during the domestication of both Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. Still, significant variation exists among common bean landraces for these traits. Since landraces form the basis for trait introgression in pre-breeding, understanding these traits’ genetic underpinnings and relation with population structure is vital for guiding breeding and genetic studies. We explored genetic admixture, principal component, and phylogenetic analyses to define subpopulations and gene pools, and genome-wide association mapping (GWAS) to identify marker-trait associations in a diversity panel of common bean landraces. We observed a clear correlation between these traits, gene pool and subpopulation structure. We found extensive admixture between the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools in some regions. We identified 13 QTLs for determinacy and 10 QTLs for photoperiod sensitivity, and underlying causative genes. Most QTLs appear to be firstly described. Our study identified known and novel causative genes and a high proportion of pleiotropic effects for these traits in common bean, and likely translatable to other legume species. Highlight: We identified and explored QTLs for the domestication-related determinacy and photoperiod sensitivity traits, which are traits critically associated with population structure and management and crop production.