Farmers’ Participatory Plant Selection of Lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) in Tanzania

Abstract

Farmer-participatory breeding approach is an important component in the crop improvement of lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet). The study was carried out to obtain the knowledge, practices and preferences of lablab through 31 lablab growing-farmers from Arusha, Kondoa, Karatu, Same and Babati districts of Tanzania toward initiating a lablab breeding program. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered and focused group discussions were held to collect data on the socio-demographic factors, production practices, constraints and farmer’s preferred traits of lablab. Selection of preferred traits and accessions was also done by the farmers in the field. Results showed that the chief constraints of lablab production are pests and diseases, poor marketability, low seed quality, inadequate rainfall, expensive agrochemicals, low yield, and poor storage facilities. The major pests are pod borer (field) and bruchids (storage). Preferred traits for lablab improvement include the development of insect pests and disease-resistant varieties, early maturing, high yield, black colored seed for market, short cooking time, and dense foliage. Genotypes EK2, D360, HA4, and D96 with preferred traits were identified by farmers, which forms critical decisions in crop improvement. This study describes the current view of lablab production and generates the understanding of farmers’ perceptions and preferences vital for breeding priorities and programs to increase its production, utilization and consumption.

A population genomics approach to unlock the genetic potential of lablab (Lablab purpureus), an underutilized tropical forage crop

“…The phenotypic traits studied here delineated the accessions into four main sub-clusters with a variable number of members/accessions within each cluster (Fig 1). Interestingly, this clustering was able to grouped all 2-seeded accessions (13702, 14440, 21045, 21083, 24796 and 24800) into cluster I along with two 4-seeded accessions (24783and 21048), a similar finding to that reported previously [19, 58, 59]. Furthermore, clustering based on morphological traits placed most of the best-performing accessions, in terms of TDW, except 11615, into cluster IV (Fig 1) which makes this cluster a preferred source of choice parental lines for a new cycle of breeding programmes targeting improvement in forage performance.…”

Potential of underutilized Dolichos lablab (lablab purpures) seeds in improving nutritional quality and livelihood in Tanzania

“…The socio-demographic characteristics of the participating Lablab farmers are presented in Table 10. Lablab cultivation, was dominated by males, similar to the findings of Letting et al (2022).…”

“…Farmers' ages ranged from 31 to 40 in Arumeru, Babati, and Same districts, and 41 to 50 in Mvomero, which corresponded to Letting et al (2022) results. Regarding education, over 70% had primary education, the majority were married, and households consisted of 6 to 13 individuals, a characteristic of farmers' households which is consistent with Minja et al (2021).…”

“…In the Same district, the Lablab is a cash crop (Same District Council, 2018). The majority of farmers had 13 to 49 years of experience in Lablab farming for agribusiness in contrast to Letting et al (2022) reported having < 10 years' experience in Lablab cultivation. Further to that, the non-black Lablab was less than 35% cultivated.…”

Pre-Breeding Prospects of Lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) Accessions in Tanzania: Morphological Characterization and Genetic Diversity Analysis

“…However, limited farmers' preferred lablab varieties exist. Production of lablab is constrained by pests and diseases, lack of improved varieties, poor marketability, poor soil fertility, competition from related legume crops, and fluctuating climatic conditions [22,23]. Moreover, the limited information on the genetic diversity of the germplasm found in Africa impede lablab advancement [5].…”