ICARDA News

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.cgiar.org
1 April 2004
For more information contact:
Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
New Vetch Varieties Released in Georgia
Three new varieties of vetch, belonging to winter forage legumes, were recently released in Georgia. All three varieties are rich in digestible drymatter, which makes them particularly suited for green fodder. Since these varieties are cold-tolerant, they are suitable for planting in late autumn or early winter.
     Vicia dasycarpa, variety 'Abigi', has dark green leaves and its stem is about 86.6 cm in height. It flowers in spring and produces about 18 pods per plant (0.16 kg seeds). In dry areas, 'Abigi' produces an average of 6.2 t/ha of hay and its vegetative period lasts between 170 and 175 days.
    Vicia narbonensis, variety 'Abika', is also characterized by dark green leaves. Its stem is about 92cm in height. It flowers in spring, and produces about 12 pods per plant (0.11 kg seeds). 'Abika' yields 7.3 t/ha of hay and 0.54 t/ha of seed, and its vegetative period is between 150 and 155 days.
    Vicia sativa, variety 'Abiza', has a short stem of 68.7 cm. It produces dark green leaves and flowers in spring. 'Abiza' produces 21 pods/per plant (0.17 kg seeds) and yields 9.3 t/ha of hay. The vegetative period is between 170 and 175 days.

'Abika,' a new vetch variety (Vicia narbonensis) released in Georgia.
Seed of 'Abiza,' the new vetch variety (Vicia sativa), will be multiplied for distribution to farmers in Georgia.

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.cgiar.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of 62 members and 16 Future Harvest Centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment
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