QTL Mapping for Drought-Responsive Agronomic Traits Associated with Physiology, Phenology, and Yield in an Andean Intra-Gene Pool Common Bean Population

Understanding the genetic background of drought tolerance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) can aid its resilience improvement. However, drought response studies in large seeded genotypes of Andean origin are insufficient. Here, a novel Andean intra-gene pool genetic linkage map was created for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of drought-responsive traits in a recombinant inbred line population from a cross of two cultivars differing in their response to drought. Single environment and QTL × environment analysis revealed 49 QTLs for physiology, phenology, and yield-associated traits under control and/or drought conditions. Notable QTLs for days to flowering (Df1.1 and Df 1.2) were co-localized with a putative QTL for days to pods (Dp1.1) on linkage group 1, suggesting pleiotropy for genes controlling them. QTLs with stable effects for number of seeds per pod (Sp2.1) in both seasons and putative water potential QTLs (Wp1.1, Wp5.1) were detected. Detected QTLs were validated by projection on common bean consensus linkage map. Drought response-associated QTLs identified in the novel Andean recombinant inbred line (RIL) population confirmed the potential of Andean germplasm in improving drought tolerance in common bean. Yield-associated QTLs Syp1.1, Syp1.2, and Sp2.1 in particular could be useful for marker-assisted selection for higher yield of Andean common beans.