Legume Program Annual Report 1993

Abstract

This report highlights the work of the Legume program for 1993. Research and training activities during the 1992/93 season were continued with the aim to encourage and support national efforts in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region, and other developing -countries with similar ecologies, in improving the productivity and yield stability of cool-season food and feed legumes and enhance their role in increasing, in a sustainable manner, the productivity of cereal-based, rainfed farming system. Research and training were conducted jointly with scientists from other ICARDA programs as well as with those from the national program in a multidisciplinary team approach. Work on the Kabuli chickpea was conducted jointly with ICRISAT. Collaboration with relevant institutions in several industrialized countries on basic research continued.

Research work was mainly centered at Tel Hadya site of ICARDA, but good use was also made of other testing sites in Syria (Breda and Jinderess) and Lebanon (Kfardan and Terbol) . Generation advancement of lentil and Kabuli chickpeas was done at Terbol. Research sites of several national programs were used, jointly with the national scientists, for research on developing breeding material with specific resistance to some key biotic and abiotic stresses because of the presence of ideal screening conditions there.