Nitrogen fixation and drought tolerance interspecific Phaseolus hybrids

Abstract

Interspecific hybrids between the drought sensitive common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and the drought tolerant tepary bean (P. acutifolius A. Gray) have the potential to increase bean production in regions where rainfall is limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate Rhizobium specificity, nitrogen fixing ability, and drought tolerance in selected interspecific hybrids and their parental lines.

Growth pouch and Leonard jar experiments were conducted to determine Rhizobium specificity. The fast-growing rhizobia strain UMR 1899 and the slow-growing rhizobia strain UMR 3041 were used to inoculate common bean and tepary bean parental lines and their interspecific hybrids.