Activity 1.1: Multiplication of foundation and breeders’ seeds on-station

About 251 kg of foundation and breeders’ seeds of the improved high yielding bean varieties were multiplied on 8.58 ha of land on station at Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAARI) and Kachwekano Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC) during this period.  Part of the resulting seed was distributed to farmers for multiplication under the farmer – to - farmer seed loan scheme, setting up demonstration fields, and multiplication by some private seed companies.

Activity 1.2 Multiplication of seed through a farmer- to -farmer seed loan scheme

During the second growing season of 2004, 542 farmers from Mubende, Sironko and Kabale districts received ¼ kg  - ½ kg of seed each of the varieties NABE 4 (large red mottled bean variety) and NABE 12C (large sugar bean: Plate 1) for multiplication under the farmer-to-farmer seed loan scheme. The loan scheme was aimed at creating awareness. And for the case of the climbing beans, currently there is no private company involved in their seeds production. The loan scheme resulted into an initial access of seed of those varieties by farmers in those districts. More farmers are expected to be reached in 2005.

Activity 1.3 Demonstrations of the available improved bean technologies

34 demonstration fields aimed at exposing to farmers and other end users the available improved bean technologies were set up in Mubende, Sironko and Kabale districts.  Both bush and climbing bean varieties of various attributes have been released, so setting up demonstration fields was the first step suitable in exposing all that that is available. The bush beans included NABE 1, NABE 2, NABE 4, NABE 5, NABE 6, NABE 11 and two pre-release lines, RWR 1946 and RWR 2075. The climbing bean varieties included NABE 7C, NABE 8C, NABE 9C, NABE 10C and NABE 12C. Generally climbing beans have several advantages over bush beans, some of which include higher yields, suitability for areas with limited land and short cooking time. Hence the reason for their promotion under this project.  All the demonstrations were planted on farmer’s fields, who willingly provided their land and labour right from land open up, planting weeding, staking up to harvesting (Plate 2).  From the demonstration fields, farmers’ awareness of some of the recent released improved varieties was created. They were able to select the varieties they preferred based on their own observations.

Activity 1.4 Sensitization and training of farmers and their opinion leaders

The demonstration fields in activity 1:3 above also served as a training ground for the farmers on important bean production and management practices. Sensitisation and field day trainings for farmers were organized in the various districts at these demonstration fields.  At least up to 374 farmers and local leaders were able to participate in the field days/trainings (Plates 3).

Activity 1.5 Production of promotional materials

Promotional materials for farmer use in the form of variety descriptors, posters and calendars were prepared in order to catalyse the promotion and dissemination of the technologies.

Activity 2.1 Selection of root rot and low soil fertility tolerant bean genotypes on individual farmers’ fields in Kabale district, Kitumba sub county

This activity was a continuation of activities initiated during the Rockefeller grant through CIAT/NARO. 56 individual farmers including 5 traders from Kabale district, Kitumba sub county continued to participate. These had previously been involved in making their own selections of bean genotypes from the farmer participatory variety selection and evaluation trials (FPVS) planted on-station at Kachwekano ARDC during the second growing season of 2002. During 2004, each farmer planted and evaluated between 3 and 8 genotypes, out of which the most promising were RWR 2075 and RWR 1946. The advantages of these two genotypes were mainly the yield potential, tolerance to bean root rot disease (Plate 4) and low soil fertility, large and very clean pods suitable for fresh market consumption and the attractive red  seed colours.

Currently there is demand for these two genotypes in Kabale district. Farmers who participated in the FPVS trials are now multiplying seed, though still informally and are selling to other farmers who did not participate at a cost of Uganda shillings 1,000 – 2000 per kg as opposed to the shs. 400 paid for the other existing local cultivars. Genotypes RWR 2075 and RWR 1946 are to be released this year (2005).

Activity 2.2 Participatory variety evaluation and selection at Multilocation sites

Multilocation trial sites (see map): Three low altitude sites namely Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (central Uganda at about 1150 m.a.s.l), Nakabango (eastern Uganda) and Bulindi Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC), in western Uganda at 1132 m.a.s.l were used. The high altitude site (about 2200 m.a.s.l) used was Kachwekano ARDC in southwestern Uganda). Farmers were invited to participate in variety evaluation at these sites.  The on-station trials were also aimed at assessing the genotype x environment interactions (G X E).

75 advanced bush bean genotypes were evaluated. Out of these 12 genotypes namely IMUNA, VXAT 16, MT 2/5, MT 12/39, JU 93/21, F4VTLM 2, POA 5, PVAD 791, DB 201- 77-18-2, DRK 138, DB 201-77-18-1 and F7MG46-1 were selected for further testing on individual farmers’ fields during 2005. Selection criteria were based on the yield potential, agronomic attributes (such as days to flowering, days to maturity), reaction to field diseases, seed quality attributes (including seed size, seed colour, cooking time, testa texture on cooking) and reaction to other important stresses.

In addition to the bush beans, 30 advanced climbing beans were also evaluated.  Out of which, 5 genotypes namely MAC 61 - 2, RWR 1105, MAC 9, MAC 15 and MAC 35 were selected for further testing on farmers’ fields during 2005.  Selection criteria were as per described above. (MAC = Mid altitude climbers)

Activity 2.3 On-farm variety trials

More on-farm trials comprising of 11 bush bean genotypes selected from previous  multilocation yield trials were conducted in the districts of Luwero, Masaka (central Uganda), Mayuge (eastern), Hoima ( western) and Kabale. 

Activity 3.1 Backcrossing programme to incorporate specific resistance to angular leaf spot and bean root rot diseases

For angular leaf spot resistance, Mexico 54 was the donor parent used for crossing to K20, K 132, Kanyebwa,( popular susceptible cultivars with acceptable seed types). Generation of the following backcross populations is on going: K 132 x BC _2-3 F₁ (K 132 x Mexico 54), Kanyebwa x BC _2-3 F₁ (Kanyebwa x Mexico 54) and K 20 x BC_2-3 F₁ (K20 x Mexico 54.

NABE 12C, a climbing bean variety with acceptable seed qualities in addition to the high yield potential, has recently been observed to have some level of susceptible reaction to the bean root rot disease. Therefore a backcrossing programme to incorporate this lacking resistance was started. The source of resistance being used is MLB 49-89A, a root rot resistant semi-climber with known mode of resistance gene to the root rot disease (Otsyula et al.,).

Activity 3.2 Widening the genetic using the available germplasm

Germplasm that had been collected locally and from other international centers was included in the crossing programme in order to widen the genetic base. This is because the cultivars K 132, Kanyebwa Kahura and K20 were the only adapted parental lines, which have been based on for so long while making crosses in the breeding programme. Land races such as Masindi yellow, Rushare, Manyigamulimi and Nakawunde, which are also very popular among farmers in the country were also incorporated into the crossing programme. These land races have acceptable seed quality attributes such as the seed colour and short cooking time, but are susceptible to major bean diseases. They were crossed with POA 2, Mexico 54, RWR 1946 and RWR 2075, which have known tolerances to angular leaf spot, bean root rot, anthracnose or low soil fertility.

In general the lines included as parents were those which had a large seed size combined with acceptable seed colour such as red mottled, red and sugar type colour and with known levels of field reaction to diseases and other stresses.

Activity 3.3 Evaluation of segregating populations

996 (F₈-F₉) single progeny rows were evaluated for the important agronomic attributes, field reaction to diseases, pod load, seed colour and growth habit.  Out of these, a total of 492 progeny rows were selected for further testing in 2005 at multilocation sites under different stresses.