A study led by Oregon State University researchers has discovered a wide range of phenotypic variation in snap bean coloration, from green to purple and red pods and leaves, a finding that challenges previous assumptions. Published in the journal J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., the study uses advanced genomic techniques to explore genetic diversity in snap beans. The research could have significant implications for food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable agriculture, and the team plans to further investigate the genetic mechanisms behind the observed variability and explore ways to incorporate this diversity into breeding programs.