By Jim Smalley
Research led by the University of Saskatchewan and Michigan state University is looking at Tepary beans.
The high protein legume common to the southwest U.S. may hold the key to adapting bean crops for the harsh conditions brought on by a changing climate.
Researchers found that as the temperature rises to 27 degrees C at night, which devastates current bean crops, specific genes sensitive to heat stress in the tepary bean get activated, protecting the plant.
Professor of plant breeding and genetics at the U of S, Kirstin Bett, says the tepary bean is very stress tolerant.