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New Bean Lines Pre-released in Kenya
Prof. Paul Macharia Kimani,
Department of Crop Science
University of Nairobi, P.O.
Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel: (254-20) 630705
E-mail:
kimanipm@nbnet.co.ke
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Introduction.
After a long time since the last release of improved bean varieties, five
new bean lines were recommended for pre-release by the bean national variety
release technical committee in a meeting held at the Kenya Plant Health
Inspectorate (KEPHIS) headquarters in Nairobi on 26 March 2006. KEPHIS has
the national mandate of testing bean varieties submitted by breeding
programs in Kenya. The GLP (Grain Legume Project) beans widely cultivated
and traded in Kenya were released in 1984 by the National Horticultural
Research Centre, presently KARI-Thika. The next set of four varieties (Kat
B1, Kat B9, Kat X56 and Kat 69) was released by the National Dryland Farming
Research Center (NDFRC), presently KARI-Katumani, between 1987 and 1998.
Release of improved bean varieties to Kenyan farmers has been hindered by
lack of a clear and transparent variety testing and release procedure, and
often by conflict of interests. The formation of KEPHIS through an act of
parliament in 1996, variety development on one hand, and testing (also known
as national performance trials), registration and release, on the other,
were separated.
National performance trials (NPT). The
trials for beans were restarted in 2005. Two
trials were conducted. The first trial had 16 bush bean entries and three
checks. These entries were contributed by KARI-Kakamega (3), Egerton
University (3), University of Nairobi (8), Kenya Seed Company (1) and
Western Seed Company (1). The second trial had five climbing bean lines and
two checks – all jointly contributed by KARI-Embu and the University of
Nairobi. Except for entries from Kenya Seed Company and Western Seed
Company, all others either had their origins, or were derived from
International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) germplasm and
distributed through the collaborative regional bean breeding program based
at the University of Nairobi. The entries were tested during the long rain
season (March- June) of 2005 and short rain season (October- January 2006).
Three climbing bean lines (MAC 13, MAC 34 and MAC 64) and two bush bean
lines (AFR 708 and KK 8) were recommended for pre-release. Due to failure of
rains at most of the testing sites in the short rains cropping season
(October- January 2006), the variety release committee recommended a repeat
of the national performance trials for other bush bean entries.
This is the first time climbing beans, which have 3:1 yield advantage over
bush bean varieties, are formally pre-released in Kenya. The lines will be
fully released when the distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS)
tests are completed. Although Kenya is the leading producer of beans in
Africa, with an estimated 800,000 ha under the crop each year, yields are
low. The demand for beans in the country exceeds local production levels.
Kenya is presently a net importer of beans from the neighbouring countries
of Uganda and Tanzania. The release and dissemination of the new bean
varieties with high yield potential and resistance to major biotic and
abiotic stresses is expected to reduce the current production deficit.
Additional reading
Collaborators and Acknowledgements
Credit goes to
University of Nairobi, The Rockefeller Foundation, ECABREN and CIAT for
their financial, technical and varied support for this work. John Muthamia,
Mr Micheni and Dr Macharia Gethi of KARI-Embu conducted the Embu trials
while KEPHIS managed the national performance trials. Prof Njoka and his
team at Egerton University were the lead institution for the bush bean line
AFR 708. KARI-Kakamega team led by Dr Reuben Otsyula, Gideon Rachier and Dr
Odongo (Centre Director) are acknowledged for their work in KK line. I
acknowledge the support from the National Bean Program Coordinator, Mr David
Karanja.
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