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Growing
mungbean during the dry season presents a good opportunity
for Ilocano farmers to earn additional income after rice
farming. This is because mungbean production requires less
labor and inputs.
However,
farmers are lukewarm to this practice because of the poor
performance of the available traditional mungbean
varieties that are mostly late-maturing, low-yielding and
susceptible to pests and diseases.
Recognizing the need to overcome these constraints,
researchers at the Mariano Marcos State University and Don
Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, led by Fernando
Sugui and Velma Mangaser, evaluated high-yielding and
pest-resistant mungbean lines during the 2003 to 2006 dry
seasons for adaptability in the Ilocos Region.
Results of
the trials monitored by the Los Baños based-Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources
Research and Development of the Department of Science and
Technology showed that lines EGM 93-289, EGM 93-293 and
EGM 6173-B-15 yield from 1,225 kilograms (kg) to 1,253 kg
a hectare. These yields are 12-percent to 18- percent
higher than those of the check varieties NSIC Mg 8 and
NSIC Mg 11, which yield from 1,062 kg to 1,098 kg a
hectare.
The
big-seeded EGM lines mature within 62 to 63 days after
planting with plant height of 55.59 centimeters (cm) to
60.64 cm. They produce 12 pods per plant measuring 9.74-cm
to 9.91-cm long. Each pod contains 12 green to glossy
green seeds of good quality.
The lines
are highly resistant to shattering and lodging. They are
also resistant to beanfly, pod borer and powdery mildew,
and moderately resistant to rust and Cercospora leaf spot.
It was
observed that it is best to plant these improved lines in
February if irrigation is available. Otherwise, it should
be planted not later than December 15 to avoid the
outbreak of powdery mildew.
According
to Sugui and Mangaser, at a production cost of P15,000 a
hectare and a yield of 1,000 kg of seeds a hectare, valued
at P40 per kg, the net income could be as much as P25,000
a hectare, or a net return of P1.66 for every peso
invested.
The EGM
lines are products of the breeding program of the
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry-Los
Baños National Crop Research and Development Center.
After
undergoing stringent evaluation in the National
Cooperative Testing for Field Legumes, EGM 93-293 bested
all other lines in terms of performance across locations
and seasons.
According
to Flora Jarilla, chairperson of the Field Legumes
Technical Working Group of the National Seed Industry
Council (NSIC), EGM 93-293 will be recommended to the NSIC
for commercial release. | 
