Kenya
April, 2008
Source:
Plant Breeding News
An Electronic
Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Clair H. Hershey, Editor
Sponsored by
FAO/AGPC and Cornell University,
Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics
French bean is an important crop
in Kenya. Its annual production is about 37,000 tons at a value
of US$ 98,556,437. Most of the produce is exported to Europe as
fresh pods but also in cans.
Seed for growing French beans is almost all imported from
Europe, from where often certified seed is first dispatched to
eastern Africa; next, a crop is grown there and the seed yield
transported to Europe. After sorting, treating and packaging,
the seed is forwarded to customers, for instance those in
eastern Africa, Kenya included.
Moi University at Eldoret,
Kenya initiated a new French bean breeding program in 2004. The
aim was to develop in a participatory fashion varieties with
high and stable pod yields and pod qualities. The demand is
mainly for fine and extra-fine pods.
As from 2006 the program was supported by Kirhouse Trust at the
Institute of Advanced Technology, Oxford University, Kidlington,
England.
Four parent varieties were selected to form a population from a
four-way cross. Generations were advanced by using a rapid
screening technique in mini-pots at relatively high
temperatures. A replicated trial was conducted during 2007 at
four locations, which ranged in altitude from 1000 – 2000 m
above sea level. Encouraging results were obtained, both
yield-wise (11.121 t ha-1) and quality-wise (86.25 % fine and
extra-fine pods); the location x variety interaction effect was
statistically significant, while stability parameters varied.
Developing a suitable variety locally has obvious advantages for
local employment, reduction of fuel consumption for
transportation, which in turn will contribute to sustain a
healthy environment and climate.
The corresponding author will appreciate comments from readers
of Plant Breeding Newsletter, who are interested in the
described field of work.
Contributed by Esther Edith
Arunga (corresponding author) and Henk A. van Rheenen
Department of Biotechnology
Moi University
PO Box 1125
Eldoret
Kenya |
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