Ar. Piergiovanni et al., Diversity among common bean populations from the Abruzzo region (Central Italy): A preliminary inquiry, GEN RESOUR, 47(5), 2000, pp. 467-470
The Abruzzo region (Central Italy) shows peculiar characteristics: the exte
nsion of mountain territory is the highest in mainland Italy and the whole
region is less developed as compared to other Central Italy areas. Moreover
, the farming systems developed with specific peculiarities parallel to she
pherdy. Recently, in the area of the Gole di Popoli, ideally constituting t
he door of the inner and less developed part of the region, four population
s of common bean were collected. Seed morphological traits, phaseolin and l
ectin profiles were analysed. Three populations appeared heterogeneous in p
haseolin and lectin fractions. C, T, and S phaseolin types, C type being pr
edominant, and six lectin patterns were observed. A comparison with common
bean populations from the Basilicata region (Southern Italy) showed interes
ting differences between the two regions. The present contribution, besides
the limitation due to the small number of samples, suggests that the Abruz
zo, and other Italian regions with similar agro-environmental conditions, m
ight retain highly interesting local populations.