Project Final Reports

August 01, 2021

Article from the August 2021 Newsletter.

To kick start activities the Legume Systems Innovation Lab awarded six initial project grants. These short-term non-competitive awards were selected based on their research concepts and alignment with overarching innovation lab research goals. All six of these projects have concluded and submitted final reports which we will share over the next several months.

dr_mcclean_team — *Dr. McClean from North Dakota State University (third from right) and his project team in Guatemala.*

Selection and Release of Climate Resilient Common Bean Germplasm for the Highlands and Dry Corridor of Central America

Led by Dr. Phil McClean, North Dakota State University

This project, Selection and Release of Climate Resilient Common Bean Germplasm for the Highlands and Dry Corridor of Central America, was a short continuation of the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes Legume Innovation Lab project that focused on the expansion of the Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Agrícolas (ICTA) bean breeding program. The advanced generation lines that led to the two varieties were developed during the Legume Innovation Lab and were released during this project.

Release Event
The release event of the ICTA Patriarca varieties was held at the ICTA Experimental Center in San Geronimo. This center is located in the “Dry Corridor” region of Guatemala, the target region for which the variety was bred. A total of 250 five-pound bags of seed were distributed to attendees. Over subsequent months, seed was distributed individual to growers on demand.

Selection of Advanced Bruchid Resistant Lines
A total of 23 advanced lines with previously determined high levels of bruchid resistant damage were field tested along with two control lines. Three advanced lines were selected for advanced generation trials that have continued since the termination of this project.