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Title: Mshindi Kablanketi Dry Bean for East Africa

Author
item NCHIMBI-MSOLLA, SUSAN - SOKOINE UNIV OF AG
item MISANGU, ROBERT - SOKOINE UNIV OF AG
item MABAGALA, ROBERT - SOKOINE UNIV OF AG
item MAGAYANE, FLAVIANUS - SOKOINE UNIV OF AG
item KWEKA, SOSTENUS - SELIAN AG RES INSTITUTE
item BUTLER, LORNA - IOWA ST UNIV
item Miklas, Phillip - Phil
item MYERS, JAMES - OREGON ST UNIV

Submitted to: Bean Improvement Cooperative Annual Report
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2008
Citation: Nchimbi-Msolla, S., Misangu, R., Mabagala, R., Magayane, F., Kweka, S., Butler, L.M., Miklas, P.N., Myers, J.R. 2008. Mshindi Kablanketi Dry Bean for East Africa. Bean Improvement Cooperative Annual Report. 51:278-279.

Interpretive Summary: An important new bean market class in Tanzania is Kablanketi. The original Kablanketi is a landrace variety with seed that has a fine purple flecking superimposed over a cream background, and a type III indeterminate growth habit. This variety was first observed in Tanzania in the southern highlands about three decades ago. It probably was introduced into that region from Zambia. It is highly unusual in that its diffusion throughout Tanzania was very rapid compared to other bean variety introductions. An important reason for this is that Kablanketi is highly palatable, produces a desirable colored broth, and cooks quickly. As with many other landraces found in sub Saharan Africa, it is susceptible to most diseases and pests, and is low yielding. The breeding objective that produced Mshindi successfully combined the Kablanketi seed type and cooking characteristics with the yield, growth habit and disease resistance of SUA improved cultivars. This new cultivar will increase farmer income and provide more beans for family consumption than the currently available landrace variety.

Technical Abstract: Mshindi’ was derived from the single cross ‘Rojo’ x ‘Kablanketi’ made in Dec-Jan 1992-93. Mshindi was previously tested under the experimental number EG 21. Mshindi is Swahili for “Winner”. Mshindi out-yielded the check Kenya in 10 of 12 trials and had an overall yield advantage of 117%. Mshindi has a clear yield advantage to Kenya and over the long term will out perform SUA 90, but has similar yield potential to Rojo. Overall yields were higher in researcher’s plots compared to on-farm trials. Yields ranged from 975 – 1783 kg ha-1 at the Mafiga and Selian sites and from 363- 1665 kg ha-1 in farmer’s fields at Msongozi, Maharaka and Dihinda. Mshindi has an erect determinate bush (Type I) growth habit. Plants average 49 cm in height and have an average of three main nodes and five branches. Seed of Mshindi is medium sized (averaging 28.9 g 100 seeds-1 over 12 trials). By comparison, Kablanketi seed size ranges from 23 – 32 g 100 seeds-1, with largest seed sizes normally observed under drought stress conditions. Mshindi seed is dull in appearance with a pink or light red kidney background overlain by a fine purple flecking. This novel color combination was identified by farmers during early generation evaluation of bean lines, as being potentially desirable because it combined the colors of two preferred market classes.