The tepary bean genome provides insight into evolution and domestication under heat stress
Samira Mafi Moghaddam, Atena Oladzad, ChuShin Koh, Larissa Ramsay, John P. Hart, Sujan Mamidi, Genevieve M. Hoopes, Avinash Sreedasyam, Andrew T. Wiersma, Dongyan Zhao, Jane Grimwood, John P. Hamilton, Jerry Jenkins, Brieanne Vaillancourt, Joshua C. Wood, Jeremy Schmutz, Sateesh Kagale, Timothy G. Porch, Kirstin E. Bett, C. Robin Buell, Phillip E. McClean
Abstract
Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolis A. Gray), native to the Sonoran Desert, is highly adapted to heat and drought. It is a sister species of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), the most important legume protein source for direct human consumption, and whose production is threatened by climate change. Here, we report on the tepary genome including exploration of possible mechanisms for resilience to moderate heat stress and a reduced disease resistance gene repertoire, consistent with adaptation to arid and hot environments. Extensive collinearity and shared gene content among these Phaseolus species will facilitate engineering climate adaptation in common bean, a key food security crop, and accelerate tepary bean improvement.