Evaluating Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet germplasm to identify short-season accessions suitable for crop and livestock farming systems in southern Africa

Abstract

Lablab purpureus is a multipurpose legume with potential as a vegetable, pulse or forage crop for smallholder farming systems of southern Africa. Its use in the region is limited because the long-season forage types available result in unreliable seed set. In the first of three field evaluations conducted in Limpopo province, South Africa, 33 introduced accessions and three local varieties were evaluated. Days to 50% flowering and to maturity ranged from 51 to >150 days after planting (DAP) and from 90 to 197 DAP, respectively. Most accessions produced <5 000 kg ha−1 biomass at 87 DAP. The highest seed yields were between 500 and 600 kg ha−1 produced generally by the earliest flowering lines. The second evaluation repeated these measurements for 24 of the earliest flowering accessions and from these eight were selected for a third evaluation. Five accessions (CPI52552, CPI60795, CPI81364, CQ3620 and Q6990B) were found to be consistently early flowering (range 43 to 70 DAP), high seed yielding (331 to 1 233 kg ha−1) and are recommended for further evaluation. Further work should be in partnership with farmers to test desirable eating qualities and there is need for seed multiplication for future commercial release.