A core collection of adzuki beans, representing the germplasm of Chinese land
races, was screened at Warwick Australia in a replicated yield trial sown
mid-summer. Grain yield, yield components, phenologic traits, vegetative
characteristics, and morphologic descriptors were recorded for all accessions
plus Japanese-derived check varieties.
Accessions from southern China were later flowering, had smaller seed, and
grew taller than those from central China. Grain yield was greatest for
accessions from central China, whereas both north Chinese and Japanese check
accessions were generally low yielding.
The evaluation of diversity displayed trends associated with latitude of
germplasm origin, which were positive or negative according to the trait.
Similarly, the germplasm diversity in duration of crop growth phases and in
rate of yield expression was also associated with latitude of landrace origin.
Localised variations from these trends were found for seed size and for number
of pods per plant. Various trends with latitude of origin were found for
natural incidence of powdery mildew, for growth habit, plant height, vining
and leaf colour. However, traits not associated with latitude of germplasm
origin included primary and secondary seed colour, mature pod colour, and
degree of branching.
The evaluation suggests that selections from this greater range of genetic
diversity may allow higher yielding varieties than the current
Japanese-derived standards to be developed for Australia.
Influence of traditional Wa culture on vegetable germplasm diversity in Yunnan Province
