Kenya: Researchers have sequenced a new bean genome that will help increase yields in drought-prone regions

Published May 5, 2023

Tridge summary

A research team has sequenced the genome of the climate-resistant hyacinth bean, also known as the 'lab bean,' a crop native to Africa that could enhance food security in drought-prone areas. The bean is highly adaptable, nutritious, and contributes to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. The research could lead to targeted breeding to enhance the crop's productivity and widened cultivation, particularly in drought-prone regions. The team used innovative sequencing platforms and engaged African scientists to overcome Africa's infrastructure limitations, aiming to inspire genetic improvement of the lab bean and other underutilized crops.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

An international team of researchers has completely sequenced the genome of a climate-resistant bean that could improve food security in drought-prone regions. Sequencing the hyacinth bean, or “lab bean,” opens the way to wider cultivation of this crop, bringing nutritional and economic benefits as well as much-needed diversity to the global food system. The plant is native to Africa and cultivated in the tropics, producing highly nutritious beans that are used for food and livestock feed. It is extremely drought tolerant and thrives in a variety of environments and conditions, contributing to food and economic security and improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Lablab is also used in medicine in some areas and contains bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential. The adaptability of the plant indicates a high genetic diversity, which means the possibility of choosing different adaptive genotypes for different environments and climatic conditions. But Lablab's ...

Source: Landlord