TY - JOUR AU - Isaacs, Krista B. AU - Snapp, Sieglinde S. AU - Kelly, James D. AU - Chung, Kimberly R. PY - 2016 DA - 2016/08/08 TI - Farmer knowledge identifies a competitive bean ideotype for maize–bean intercrop systems in Rwanda JO - Agriculture & Food Security SP - 15 VL - 5 IS - 1 AB - Plant genotypes are rarely developed for mixed cropping systems despite the potential of these systems to provide multiple ecosystem services. One of the most ubiquitously grown mixed cropping systems is a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) intercrop, but there is little consensus among researchers, and few known studies document farmer knowledge, about superior bean genotypes specifically for this intercrop system. Participatory plant breeding (PPB) is a well-accepted method of selecting varieties with farmers and could be a useful tool for identifying genotypes for intercrops. We used sole crop and intercrop PPB on-farm trials (n = 13) and interviews (n = 59) to document farmer knowledge about climbing bean genotypes and adaptation for intercrops in Rwanda, where smallholder farmers have traditionally grown beans and maize for generations. SN - 2048-7010 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0062-8 DO - 10.1186/s40066-016-0062-8 ID - Isaacs2016 ER -