Evaluation of mungbean accessions for the southern Canadian prairies

Abstract

Olson, M., Bandara, M., Bing, D. J., Kruger, A., Henriquez, B. and Bremer, E. 2011. Evaluation of mungbean accessions for the southern Canadian prairies. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 137–141. Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] accessions were screened under field conditions to determine their suitability for commercial production in regions similar to those used for dry bean production on the Canadian prairies. Field studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 at two locations in southern Alberta and in 2007 at one location in southern Manitoba. Two mungbean lines produced a minimum of 400 kg seed ha−1 at 4 of 5 site-years, even with as little as 2240 crop heat units (CHU). The best-yielding accession produced an average seed yield of 750 kg ha−1. Although seed yields were low relative to dry bean (1920 to 3100 kg ha−1), substantial increases could likely be obtained through improvements in cultural practice and cultivar development.