State Board
of
Agricultural Research Fund

SBAR Dry Bean Granting Committee

Northern Crops Institute, Fargo

December 3, 1998

Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order to Chairman Mark Sletten. Members present were Chairman Sletten, Mark Dombeck, Mark Myrdal, Tim Skjoiten, Mike Beelner, Gary Friskop, Jerome Hagemeister, Dr. Kenneth Grafton, and Dr. Cole Gustafson. Others present were Tim Courneya, Executive Director of Northarvest Bean Growers Association and Lori Capouch, Coordinator for the Agricultural Research Fund.

The meeting began with a brief overview of the intent of the Agricultural Research Fund. The dry bean committee has $17,235.88 available for grants this fiscal year. The meeting continued with discussion of the proposals.

Proposals Considered

Elimination of "Marsh Spot" in Cranberry Bean

Amount Requested: $3,000/1 year

Cranberry bean is a possible export crop for North Dakota farmers. Currently, a non-pathogenic disease, which causes brown spotting of the cotyledons in the seed is a constraint to expanded production. The planned research is designed to overcome the problem. The funding will be used to pay for time-slip labor and for necessary supplies.

Storability of Dry Edible Beans

Amount Requested: $30,000/1 year

Very little is publicly known about the appropriate moisture content or other storage parameters and the allowable storage duration before quality loss occurs. Existing information suggest that beans should be harvested at moisture contents exceeding that safe for storage to maintain color quality and minimize damage during harvest. Resistance to airflow data is required to design drying and aeration systems, but it is not available.

The objectives of the research are to determine the storability of pinto beans (color and culinary quality) as affected by time of harvest, storage moisture content and temperature, and exposure to light and oxygen.

The funds will be used to conduct the research. The research process will include harvesting beans periodically at various moisture contents in the field and observing color and culinary changes. Pinto beans will be stored under controlled conditions of various temperatures and moisture contents, and conditions of light and oxygen. Periodically during a nine month storage period, the quality of the stored beans will be measured by observing color, cooking, and canning characteristics. A laboratory apparatus will be used to determine the resistance to airflow of the primary types of dry edible beans grown in the region.

A Facility for Enhanced Breeding of Dry Edible Bean with Multiple Disease Resistance

Amount Requested: $17,279

This proposal is for enhanced dry bean breeding and pathology projects in multiple disease resistance made possible by a new greenhouse dedicated to bean development. A new greenhouse with 1800 sq. ft. floor space would nearly double the greenhouse area for dry bean research at NDSU. With the new facility, the time needed for breeding and testing new varieties will be shortened, and the quality of the testing programs will be improved.

The grant funds will be used to purchase and erect a "temporary" greenhouse dedicated to bean variety development.

Molecular Breeding of Dry Bean: Developing Molecular Markers to a Bean Rust Resistance Locus

Amount Requested: $3,750

Bean rust is an important disease of dry bean. The goal of this project is to develop a molecular marker for Ur-3, a bean rust resistance locus important to the upper midwest production region. This marker will aid in the development of varieties from the different market classes that have the Ur-3-based bean rust resistance.

The funds will be used to support undergraduate researchers and purchase laboratory supplies and reagents.

Factors Influencing Frost Tolerance of Dry Bean Seedlings

Amount Requested: $8,000

This project will determine first the freezing temperature and duration of freezing temperature that kills 50% of dry bean seedlings at four growth stages. Once this is determined, factors such as variety, soil type, soil moisture, herbicide application, rate of temperature fall, etc., that influence frost tolerance will be evaluated.

The grant funds will be used for salary of Dr. Badaruddin, supplies, computer costs, and publication costs.

Sclerotinia Infection and Inoculum Production as Influenced by Crop Species and Management Techniques

Amount Requested: $3,700/year for 3 years

Epidemics of scab in recent years have sparked grower interest in alternatives to small grains, but most broadleaf crops are susceptible to sclerotinia (white mold). This research aims to compare common broadleaf crops (canola, dry bean, field pea, flax, soybean, and sunflower) for relative susceptibility to white mold and the production of reproductive bodies (disease inoculum for succeeding crops.) Contrasting plant types and row spacings are compared to identify the best crop and management alternatives for crop rotations.

The grant funds will be used for 1) labor to install, maintain and harvest the experiment, control pest, collect data, and process samples; 2) irrigation equipment to promote development of white mold in the plots and insure good crop growth; 3) electricity for irrigation pump and ovens to dry samples, soil testing, pesticide, communication, gas, and other supplies necessary conducting the research; 4) data processing; 5) travel to present results at meetings.

Resistance of Dry Beans to White Mold

Amount Requested: $3,750/year for 2 years

The most economically efficient and environmentally friendly way to control plant diseases is through genetic resistance, however, few good sources of white mold resistance has been identified in dry bean. Recent research has been aimed at evaluating dry bean accessions from around the world for resistance to this disease. The accessions were obtained from USDA in Beltsville, MD. To date, at least two accessions exceeded cultivar "Bunsi", our most resistant dry bean control, in preliminary greenhouse experiments. It is possible that one or more of these dry bean accessions will prove valuable to the dry bean breeding program at NDSU. If so, resistance form these lines may be transferred to new dry bean cultivars in the future. This should reduce losses to white mold at the same time that costs associated with fungicide application are reduced.

This research aims to determine whether the resistance in the lines developed will stand up to natural epidemics which develop in the field and to determine the genetic basis resistance.

The grant funds will be used for undergraduate work, supplies and travel.

Funding Decisions

It was moved by Jerome Hagemeister to grant funding as follows:

$3,000 from SBAR & $1,000 from Northarvest Bean Growers Association for Elimination of Marsh Spot in Cranberry Bean

$3,700 from SBAR & $2,750 from Northarvest Bean Growers Association for Sclerotinia Infection & Inoculum Production

$3,750 from SBAR & $1,250 from Northarvest Bean Growers Association for Resistance of Dry Beans to White Mold

$6,785.88 from SBAR for Greenhouse Research contingent on a revised proposal focusing on research conducted in the research versus building a greenhouse being approved by the committee. The match is not yet determined.

The motion was seconded by Mark Myrdal and carried.

It was the committee's consensus to request that Dr. Kenneth Hellevang contact Tim Courneya to further discuss his proposal for the storability of dry beans. With modifications, the proposal could be considered for funding at a later date.

The meeting was adjourned.

Current SBAR Commitments & Future Tentative Commitments Dry Bean Committee

North Dakota State University
Morrill Hall 314
Fargo, North Dakota 58105-5562
PHONE: (701)231-7656
FAX: (701)231-7566
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Internet Email: sbar@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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