Within a National Program on conservation and sustainable utilization of agro-biodiversity, a collection of 94 Phaseolus landraces has been recently assembled by expeditions in sub-alpine areas of Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy). These materials are now managed ex situ as a part of the small genebank recently established at the University of Udine (FAO code ITA339). Our objectives are: i) to collect, characterize, maintain and evaluate traditional crop genetic resources in Friuli Venezia Giulia; ii) to select landraces for niche markets, tentatively based on locally adapted materials. All the Phaseolus landraces have been characterized by 15 morpho-phenological descriptors; seed yield, micronutrient (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) concentration and culinary traits were assessed on fresh/dry bean materials in multi-location trials. Seed rehydration after 18 hours of soaking and teguments to seed DW ratio were used as appropriate, due to the traditional bean use. For seed micronutrient concentration, samples were acid treated following the EPA method 3052 and analyzed by an ICP-OES (Varian Inc., Vista MPX). Seed rehydration was largely different among landraces (range 25-110%). Both landrace and location effects were significant for teguments to seed DW ratio. Fe, Cu and Mn seed concentration were also significantly different among landraces. Some relations about quality traits and micronutrients are discussed.