Morphotype relationships in Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) deduced from variation of the evolutionary marker phaseolin

Variation of the seed storage protein phaseolin was analysed in a collection of 100 accessions of Phaseolus lunatus L. using one-dimensional SDS/PAGE. Cultivated small-seeded genotypes belonging to Sieva and Potato morphotypes and intermediate Sieva-Potato and Sieva-Big Lima morphotypes showed the M (Mesoamerican) pattern, confirming their origin in the same gene pool . Cultivated Big Lima morphotypes showed the A (Andean) pattern, confirming that they belong to a distinct gene pool .