Improved varieties of mungbean

There is a great market potential for mungbean because of its agricultural and industrial uses. However, the country imports significant quantity of mungbean to keep up with the growing demand for local consumption. Jarilla et al. (BPI-LBNCRDC) [Bureau of Plant Industry - Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center] conducted varietal improvement of mungbean from 1996 to 2007 through Preliminary Yield Trial (PYT) and General Yield Trial (GYT). Potential varieties from the GYT were further screened in different regions of the country under the National Cooperative Testing (NCT). Evaluation was conducted to screen and develop varieties with high bean yield, early and uniform maturity, and resistance to pests and lodging/shattering. EGM93-266 ranked third and second among the test entries evaluated under NCT during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. It was the top yielder and MMSU [Mariano Marcos State Univ., Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines], BPI-LBNCRDC, and USM [University of Southern Mindanao, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines] during WS [wet season] 2002-2003. Similarly it was also one of the top yielders in seven locations (DA-CVIARC [Department of Agriculture - Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center], DMMMSU [Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State Univ.], TCA [Tarlac College of Agriculture], BPI-LBNCRDC, MMSU and USM) during DS [dry season] 2002-2004. EGM 93-266 was comparable to the check variety, NSIC Mg11, in terms of days to flower (31-33 days after emergence (DAE)), days to mature (58-59 DAE),plant height (53-80.1 cm), number of pods per plant (14-16), and number of seeds per pod (11-12). It has smaller 100-seed weight (5.1-5.2 g) than NSIC Mg11 (6.0-6.6 g) and was rated moderately resistant to cercospora leafspot and rust. Another promising line, EGM 93-293, ranked third among the test entries evaluated under NCT from WS 2004 to DS 2005-2006. It performed best at DA-CVIARC, DMMMSU, TCA, BPI-LBNCRDC, DA-CEMIARC, USM, and CMU, EGM 93-293 was comparable to NSIC Mg11 in terms of 100-seed weight (6.0-6.6), days to flower (31-32 DAE), days to mature (55-57 DAE), plant height (62.3-72.5 cm), number of pods per plant (12-19), and number of seeds per pod (t2). It was moderately resistant to cercospora leafspot and rust. Based on their outstanding performance in the NCT across locations, EGM 93-266 and EGM 93-293 were approved for commercial release as NSIC Mg14 and NSIC Mg15, respectively. NSIC Mg14 is locally named 'Kulabo' so called because of its dull seed coat, where as NSIC Mg15 is called 'Kinang' because of its glossy seeds. Interested mungbean growers now have wider choices of improved varieties.