Abstract

--- - "Background: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a nutritionally valuable crop worldwide, contributing significantly to food security. It is rich in protein, dietary fiber, essential minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant compounds with health-promoting properties. Domesticated similar to 8000 years ago in north-south corridor from modern-day Mexico to the Andes, it gave rise to two major gene pools, Andean and Mesoamerican, along with minor gene pool Peru/Ecuador, each gave rise to distinct ecological races. Following domestication, its global spread enabled broad adaptability and large-scale production. Globally, production is concentrated in Asia, Americas, and Africa." - "Scope and approach: Despite its relevance, common bean cultivation faces several threats due to rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts, reducing yield and nutritional quality. To address these challenges, this review integrates three traditionally disconnected research domains (i) biogeography and gene-pool diversity, (ii) nutritional and functional food value, and (iii) microbiome specially PGPB innovations, into a unified framework. By synthesizing genetic, physiological, ecological, and microbiome-based evidence, we outline how plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) such as Rhizobium, Azospirillum sp., Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp, Cupriavidus sp., Ralstonia sp., Burkholderia spp., Paraburkholderia sp., can be strategically combined with genetic traits to enhance nutrient acquisition, stress resilience, nitrogen fixation, and tolerance to drought, salinity, and pathogens to secure sustainable yields." - "Key findings and conclusions: This review provides the first integrated cross-disciplinary roadmap linking common bean biogeography, nutritional potential, and plant-microbe interactions to guide climate-smart breeding and sustainable production. We highlight how leveraging gene-pool-specific traits alongside next-generation microbial inoculants may boost productivity, reduce environmental impact, and ensure future food security."