The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) based at Tal Amara is responsible for variety development, evaluation and release of cereals and legumes. In general, breeding lines from national research programs or from international nurseries such as ICARDA are evaluated for further testing. Selected lines are advanced and tested for two to three years at Tal Amara for adaptation to Lebanese conditions. After two years testing high yielding lines with good grain quality are selected and tested in multi-location variety trials in five major locations across the country: Northern Coast (sea level and 800-1000mm rainfall); South (300-400m asl and 700-1000mm); West Bekaa (1000m and 600-800mm); Central Bekaa (1000m and 400-500mm); and North Bekaa (1000m and 200-300 mm). For example, in 2000/2001 seven genotypes each of bread and durum wheat, eight barley, six lentil and five chickpea lines were tested in multi-location trials.
        These multi-location trials are carried out for three years to identify superior varieties for release. Apart from yield, other characters such as grain quality are also considered in evaluating improved varieties. Based on these results, LARI proposes the release of varieties to its Board of Directors. Simultaneously, the Office de Cereales et de Betteraves Sucrières (OCBS) of the Ministry of Trade and Economics conducts grain quality analysis, and if found satisfactory accepts the released varieties for seed multiplication
        In November 2000, LARI has released three ICARDA related varieties after multi-location testing with farmers as part of the LARI/ICARDA collaborative research project. The releases include one variety each of bread wheat, durum wheat and lentil. The bread wheat variety was released as Tannour (Memouf-22), a durum wheat variety as Masarra, (Massara-1), and a lentil variety as Rachayya (FLIP87-56). The flourmills accepted Tannour because of its satisfactory flour characteristics. Masarra is a high yielder with good grain quality and expected to replace the old variety Stork for making burghol.
        The Office de Cereales et de Betteraves Sucrières is responsible for wheat and sugar beet seed multiplication and distribution to farmers and it has accepted the two released wheat varieties. Multiplication of the breeder seed started in 2000 and foundation seed will be available in September 2001. Certified seed will be distributed to farmers in 2002.
        For chickpea and lentil varieties, LARI itself is responsible to multiply seed because there is no official body responsible for handling legume seed. In 2000, about 200kg of winter chickpea Alwady (FLIP 86-6) and 400kg of lentil Talia 2 (78S 26013) were distributed free of charge throughout Lebanon and both are well accepted by farmers. Seed of another new lentil variety Rachayya will be available in 2002 since LARI has limited land for seed increase. Hassan Machlab, ARI, P.O. Box 287, Beka'a, Zahle, Lebanon; Fax: ++961-8-900077; E-mail: hmachlab@hotmail.com