Published in Probe Volume 6 (Final): July 1996
Phillip E. McClean, Database Curator
Department of Plant Sciences
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
BeanGenes is a database containing information about Phaseolus and Vigna spp. It is part of the legume database effort coordinated by Randy Shoemaker, USDA/ARS (SoyBase) and is funded by the USDA Plant Genome Project. Phil McClean, Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, is the BeanGenes curator. The database uses the ACeDB software for data storage and organization.
BeanGenes contains several classes of information. All the published molecular maps of P. vulgaris are represented in the database. These include the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) map developed by Eduardo Vallejos at the University of Florida (Vallejos et al. 1992) and the RFLP map developed by Paul Gepts at the University of California, Davis (Gepts et al. 1993). The combined RFLP and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) map developed by Michel Dron at the University of Paris, Sud can also be accessed. Nevin Young of the University of Minnesota has provided RFLP maps of mung bean (Vigna radiata) and cowpea (V. unguiculata).
Associated with each molecular map are loci and probe information. The loci information describes the probes or RAPDs used to define the locus, and the probe data provide specific information about a given probe.
BeanGenes also contains all the gene information compiled by Mark Bassett at the University of Florida (Bassett 1993). All published references to the genes are also included.
The colleague list on BeanGenes contains the list of individuals and organizations actively involved in bean research. Howard Schwartz (Colorado State University) maintains the list for the Bean Improvement Cooperative.
The major and minor diseases of the Phaseolus and Vigna spp. are described in BeanGenes. CIAT provided images for many of the Phaseolus diseases.
The database can be accessed from the BeanGenes server. Requirements include the following: X-Windows capability, knowledge ofthe ACeDB software, and a login ID. If you do not have X-Windows capability, you can access BeanGenes from the National Agricultural Library using either the World Wide Web or Gopher.
The following are the important electronic addresses:
Phil McClean - e-mail:
mcclean@beangenes.cws.ndsu.nodak.edu
NAL WWW Server:
http://probe.nal.usda.gov:8300//plant/index.html
NAL Gopher Server: probe.nal.usda.gov