Improving productivity and local utilization of mungbean: Project 1: development of mungbean varieties for drought and partial shade tolerance

The development of mungbean populations for drought and shade tolerance was achieved through rigorous evaluation from observational and yield trials, drought, partial shade screenings, and on-farm verification trials. Root characteristics, leaf physiology and foliar spray responses that are essential for the adaptation of mungbean under stress were studied. Identified potential varieties were further improved through hybridization and selection. The same tests were done to identify and recommend a variety adapted under drought (post rice) and partial shade (cassava or coconut intercropping) conditions. Results suggests that Pagasa 5 thrive well under both upland and post-rice conditions. With estimated yield of 0.86 � 1.10 t/ha, it has performed better as compared to other Pagasa varieties. It also performed better in coconut intercropping during the dry season. Notable genotypes in the replicated yield trials were 163113 (2.31t/ha, 53.8 %YA) and 163190 (2.13 t/ha, 42 %YA). Entries comparable with the check were 163136 (Iloilo yellow selection), 163334 and Mgc15-13 (1.8 t/ha). The versatility of Pagasa 7 for partial shade was exhibited by both in coconut and cassava intercropping. Advanced mungbean lines, Mgc15-13, Mgc15- 5, Mgc15-6, Mgc 15-10 and Mgc 16-37 were identified as the most drought tolerant populations having the better yield under drought conditions in the field yielding from about 0.71 to 0.91 t/ha. Mgc15-13, yielded better than the Pag-asa checks (Pag-asa 1, 3, 5, 7) but less than Taiwan Green during wet season. In terms of taste Mgc15-13, had the most preferred texture among the entries. Mgc15-10 also showed good sensory quality in terms of appearance, aroma, taste and 'sabaw'. 12 primers were identified for the genetic diversity analysis. A dendrogram with the 100 mungbean accessions showed 20 distinct clusters at 0.90 similarity coefficient. Pagasa 5, Pagasa 7 and Pagasa 19 was grouped in the Largest cluster, Cluster 1. This cluster also constitutes most of the variable accessions, in terms of drought tolerance rating, with average to high estimated yield. Pagasa 3 and seven other accessions constitute their own clusters, Cluster 6, 8, 9, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19. Cluster 11 shows a group of highly tolerant accessions with above average yield while cluster 10 constitutes a group of less tolerant individuals with average estimated yield. It was also observed that most of the accessions with yellow seed color tends to be closer together in based on the dendrogram which suggest a specific relationship between them.