Abstract

Pulse crops such as chick-peas, lentils and black grams, when combined with cereals, provide a balanced protein diet for the rural people of Pakistan. During phase I of this project an effective coordinated pulse research program was established. During the second phase, researchers will develop improved varieties of lentil, mung bean, and black gram in order to increase and stabilize yields in traditional and non-traditional cropping systems. Researchers will develop stable, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties; and evaluate appropriate production technology through on-farm testing.

Post-Project Summary

Twelve elite mung bean lines with maturities ranging from 69-85 days were identified and tried at various locations. Three significantly out-yielded the control. Screening of 112 lines for yellow mosaic virus (YMV) and leaf crinkle virus revealed one immune, 12 highly resistant, 66 resistant, and 23 tolerant. A hybridization program for black gram was initiated to widen the genetic base of the population; 18 promising accessions were evaluated in 12 locations. Out of 160 indigenous accessions of black gram, 22 appeared immune and 102 resistant to YMV. An integrated approach was taken to address the problems facing chickpea cultivation, including breeding for yield and blight resistance; testing the effectiveness of fungicidal treatments against the blight pathogen and Bacillus thuringiensis against Helicoverpa armigera, the chickpea pod-borer; and evaluating various agronomic techniques for their effect on yield. A large germplasm evaluation of lentils was conducted from which 35 accessions were selected. Significant progress in identifying early and late maturing, and higher yielding lentil varieties was achieved. The project helped institutionalize legume research in Pakistan and enabled the country to participate in the IDRC-supported Food Legume Improvement Program Network.

Recipient Institution(s)