Genomic insights into genetic diversity and seed coat color change in common bean composite populations

Summary

Introduction: L.) is an important trait influencing marketability and consumer preferences. An understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying seed coat color variation can aid in breeding programs aimed at improving esthetic and agronomic traits. This study investigates the genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms associated with seed coat color change in composite bean populations through phenotypic analysis and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Methods: Four composite populations and two standard varieties of common bean were cultivated over a two-year period and seed coat color and morphological traits were assessed. WGS was performed on 19 phenotypes and yielded 427 GB of data with an average sequencing depth of 30×. More than 8.6 million high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphi