Improvement of Seed Production Traits in Lablab Bean.

Lablab bean (Lablab purpureus [L.] Sweet) is widely used as a grazing and hay crop for ruminant animals in tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world. Improvement of seed yield and reduction of seed shattering are both needed to ensure profitability of commercial seed production.  Plant introduction accessions and breeding lines were evaluated for seed yield at Overton, Texas and lines were identified with improved seed yield relative to check cultivars.  Hand crosses were made between lablab lines with two diverse pod types.  The loose pod (LP) phenotype has a slightly inflated, flattened pod and exhibits about 20 percent seed shatter at pod maturity.  The leather pod (LTH) phenotype has a shrunken, twisted, leathery pod; exhibits no seed shatter at maturity; but is very difficult to separate seed from the pod material.  The LTH type would not be suitable for combine harvest. Both F1 and F2 generations were grown and intermediate (INT) pod types were noted in the F2 generation. The INT pod phenotypes were shrunken but not leathery and the seed was easy to separate from the pod structure.