New high-yielding kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) variety ‘NIFA Lobia-25’

Twenty-five genotypes as germplasm were collected from different sources within the country and field-evaluated at the Nuclear Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar, for plant type and yield, and related traits in non-replicated trials during 2019 and 2020. Based on an initial evaluation, nine genotypes (NKB-Kenya, NKB-RKBJ-269-Uganda, NCB-Kuram local, NCB-Afghani, NCB-China Bean, NKB-RKB-423-Ukraine, NKB-ERKBJ-470-Ethiopia, NKB-RKB-Argentine, and NKB-RKB-Ethiopia) were identified and selected for further evaluation in replicated yield trials in 2021 and 2022, as well as on kidney bean growers’ fields in Kurram in 2023 and 2024. In the replicated yield trials conducted at NIFA, the candidate genotype ‘NKB-Kenya (NIFA Lobia-25) performed better for grain yield (2,086 kg/ha) as compared to the check variety NIFA Lobia Red-22 (1,836 kg/ha). In the yield trials conducted at Kurram, NKB-Kenya (NIFA Lobia-25) out-yielded (2,044 kg/ha) the standard check (1,867 kg/ha). NKB-Kenya (NIFA Lobia-25) exhibited an average 11.6% yield increase over the check variety. Based on its better performance for yield and other agronomic traits, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Seed Council approved NIFA Lobia-25 for commercial cultivation in Kurram in particular and other kidney bean growing areas of KP in general.