Building Accelerated Plant Breeding Pipelines: Screening to Evaluate Lima Bean Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode in Diverse Inbred Lines and Segregating Breeding Populations.

Lima beans () are a cornerstone crop of Delaware's processing vegetable industry. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; spp.) cause galling of root systems, which severely reduces yield. Durable host resistance is an effective management strategy for RKNs, but availability of resistant lima bean cultivars is limited. To overcome these challenges, breeding pipelines must simultaneously advance precommercial lines and identify new resistance sources with potential for incorporation into the breeding program. Inoculated field trials were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to evaluate three -resistant, precommercial experimental lines for resistance traits and yield potential in comparison with commercial standards 'Cypress' and 'C-Elite Select'. DE1306635 had the highest yield and reduced galling and reproduction compared with 'Cypress' and is a candidate for commercial release. To continue the breeding pipeline, 256 lima bean inbred accessions from around the world were assessed from 2022 to 2023 in greenhouse and field screenings to identify novel sources of resistance in the lima bean gene pool. This method allows for evaluation and/or advancement of three generations per year. The full panel was initially evaluated for root galling, and 60 accessions were selected for additional field and greenhouse screening: 25 large- and 25 small-seeded with the lowest gall ratings, 5 high-gall controls, and 5 commercial standards. Seven accessions with reduced galling and reproduction were identified, including two known resistant lines and five newly identified genotypes. The resistance carried by these genotypes will be further characterized to assess their potential use in lima bean RKN-resistance breeding.