The Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) of Zambia officially approved for release two IITA-developed soybean varieties―TGx1740-2F and TGx1937-1F―during its ordinary session on 23 – 25 September.
In its memo of approval, the Variety Release Committee of SCCI indicated the approved local names of the two soybean varieties as “Kafue” for TGx1740-2F and “Mwembeshi” for TGx1937-1F. New crop varieties released in Zambia are traditionally named after rivers in the country.
According to Therese Gondwe, IITA scientist based in Zambia and one of the team members who presented the varieties for consideration by SCCI, the two varieties show consistently high grain yields and are self-nodulating. “The latter characteristic is very important to soil health and has a positive effect on the productivity of cereal crops planted after them. The varieties also give high fodder yields (crop residue after threshing) as a result of high biomass production,” she added.
Specifically, TGx1740-2F, or “Mwembeshi”, is an early maturing variety, tolerant of drought and resistant to a number of diseases and pests such as bacterial pustule, soybean rust, soybean mosaic virus, frogeye leaf spot, Witch’s broom, purple seed stain, common soybean fly, thrips, pod sucking bug, and the pod borer. The variety is also known as “Wamini” in Mozambique and “Tikolore” in Malawi.
On the other h and, TGx1937-1F or “Kafue” has vigorous seedling establishment. It is medium to late maturing and has high biomass production and nodulation. It is tolerant and/or resistant to purple seed stain, common soybean fly, thrips, pod-sucking bug, and the pod borer.
Gondwe envisions that the release of these two IITA-developed varieties will boost the availability of soybean seeds in Zambia. She is also optimistic that with the adoption of these varieties by farmers, the soil health of the mainly maize-based smallholder farms will also be vastly improved as the most common soybean variety currently rotated with maize―“Lukanga”―is non-self-nodulating.
For more information please contact:
Katherine Lopez, Head of Communication, IITA HQ, K.Lopez@cgiar.org
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IITA is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research-for-development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. It is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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