Enéas Ricardo Konzen

By Enéas Ricardo Konzen and Siu Mui Tsai

In this chapter, we outline the significance of landraces of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for unraveling novel morphological, biochemical and genetic variation that could be integrated to breeding programs, related to seed coat color and glossiness and disease resistance. Moreover, we emphasize how important the conservation of such genetic resources is in small-farming areas, the prevailing system for bean cultivation. A particular Brazilian landrace referred as Serro Azul by local farmers is highlighted to show new evidences of the genetic control of seed glossiness in common bean and how it implicates in the seed protection against diseases and insects. Moreover, new findings presented here give insights into a remarkable anthracnose resistance of one of the variants of Serro Azul, which also presents seed coat glossiness. The potential benefits for human health after consuming beans with glossy seed coat are also discussed. This is one among the various landraces that need better understanding for strengthening the knowledge of the genetic diversity of common bean. Such knowledge is important for conducting conservation actions and performing new crosses for providing genetic materials with desirable combinations for farmers, breeders and consumers.

Part of the book: Rediscovery of Landraces as a Resource for the Future

By Enéas Ricardo Konzen and Maria Imaculada Zucchi

Landscape genetics combines population genetics and landscape ecology to understand processes that shape the distribution and organization of human, animal, or plant populations. This field of genetics emerged from the availability of several studies with classical molecular markers, such as isozymes, RAPD, AFLP, and microsatellites. Population genetic studies enabled the detection of population structure with those markers, but a more comprehensive analysis of natural populations was only possible with the development of statistical methods that combined both molecular data and environmental variables. Ultimately, the rapid development of sequencing technologies allowed studies at the genomic level, augmenting the resolution of association with environment factors. This chapter outlines basic concepts in landscape genetics, the main statistical methods used so far, and the perspectives of this field of knowledge into strategies for conservation of natural populations of plant and animal species. Moreover, we briefly describe the application of the field to understand historical human migration processes as well as how some diseases are spread throughout the world.

Part of the book: Methods in Molecular Medicine