An article published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the predomestication history of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one of the most important sources of protein, fiber and carbohydrates on our planet today.
The Colors of the Common Bean net_efekt
The bean was domesticated sometime around 10,000 years ago in Peru, and again somewhat later (perhaps: the date isn't clear yet) in Mexico: but the original bean plant started in Mexico and migrated southward on its own, adapting to climates from the lowland tropics of Mesoamerica to the highland Andes. This remarkable flexibility on the part of the wild plant, say scholars, may give us a direction to look at, when considering how to respond to the global climate changes to come.
- Read more about Bean History
Bitocchi E, Nanni L, Bellucci E, Rossi M, Giardini A, Spagnoletti Zeuli P, Logozzo G, Stougaard J, McClean P, Attene G et al. 2012. Mesoamerican origin of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is revealed by sequence data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
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