Characterizing Bipartite Graphs which Admit k-NU Polymorphisms via Absolute Retracts

We first introduce the class of bipartite absolute retracts with respect to tree obstructions with at most $k$ leaves. Then, using the theory of homomorphism duality, we show that this class of absolute retracts coincides exactly with the bipartite graphs which admit a $(k+1)$-ary near-unanimity (NU) polymorphism. This result mirrors the case for reflexive graphs and generalizes a known result for bipartite graphs admitting a $3$-NU polymorphism.