Progress on the Development of Mung Bean [Vigna Radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] Cultivars in Alberta.

Mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] is a grain legume crop cultivated across Asia for its edible seeds and sprouts. This warm-season crop also has a favorable market demand in North America, particularly for sprout production. Field evaluations of over 200 exotic, cultivated, mung bean genotype(s) were conducted in Brooks and Bow Island in 2006 in Alberta, where relatively warm long growing seasons exist and irrigation is available. Based on preliminary assessments, 33 genotypes were selected and further evaluated for days to maturity and seed yields in Brooks and Bow Island, Alberta, and Morden, Manitoba in 2007 and 2008. Four genotypes (CHN-4, CN 33520, Morden Mung, and VC 6372) consistently yielded from 514-735 kg seed ha^-1 with a maturity range of 102 -104 days. All of these genotypes, however, were susceptible to halo blight caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. This disease could be controlled somewhat by seed treatment with Apron Maxx (Fludioxonil + Metalaxyl-M), followed by foliar applications of copper oxide fungicides. A mutated population, derived from the variety AC Harosprout after treatment with ethyl methanesulfonate, was evaluated extensively for maturation, growth habit, halo blight resistance and seed yield in southern Alberta. Based on assessments, 36 entries, including mutant lines, were evaluated at Brooks and Bow Island. Thirteen lines produced seed yields ranging from 1300 to 1660 kg ha^-1 with a maturity of 96 to 99 days in 2012. Further evaluations using the three most promising lines from these trials, and some on-farm field assessments, are in progress.