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
9 December 2004
For more information contact:
Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
New Faba Bean Variety Released in Mexico
Plant characteristics at vegetative and reproductive stages of the variety ‘San Isidro.’
A new faba bean variety, ‘San Isidro,’ was selected from ICARDA’s international nursery and released by the Institute of Agricultural, Water, and Forestry Research and Training of the State of Mexico (ICAMEX). ‘San Isidro’ possesses several desirable traits that are not found in local varieties. The variety is tolerant to chocolate spot and has desirable agronomic characteristics like short stature, lodging resistance, earliness, uniform maturity and high yield potential. ‘San Isidro’ seeds are suitable for consumption both fresh and dry; this gives producers the flexibility to adapt to the market demands.

While in Mexico for AGM04, Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research), visited ICAMEX, which is located near the city of Toluca. He was accompanied by Dr Flavio Capettini, Head of the ICARDA/CIMMYT Barley Project for Latin America, based at CIMMYT. The directors and researchers of the institute welcomed Dr Erskine, discussed the desirable traits of the new variety, and gave him a tour of the research facilities at ICAMEX.
While in Mexico for AGM04, Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research) visited ICAMEX. From left to right: Ing. Jaime Segura Lazcano, DG of ICAMEX; Dr Erskine; Mr Mario López, Head of the Horticulture Department; Mr Alberto Hernández, Director of Research; and Dr Flavio Capettini, Head of the ICARDA/CIMMYT Barley Breeding Project for Latin America.

Drs Erskine and Capettini explored new opportunities of cooperation with ICAMEX, which has a long history of collaboration with the ICARDA/CIMMYT barley breeding program for Latin America.

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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