Dry bean and pulse researchers from NDSU and the USDA-ARS Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo are hosting the 2019 Bean Improvement Cooperative and North American Pulse Improvement Association biennial meetings back-to-back at the Radisson Hotel in Fargo in November. The cooperative meeting began Nov. 3 and continues until Nov.6, and the association meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6-8.

Juan Osorno, NDSU dry bean breeder; Phil McClean, dry bean geneticist; Julie Pasche, pulse and lentil crops pathologist; Nonoy Bandillo, pulse breeder; and Mike Grusak, USDA-ARS center director, comprise the local organizing committee.

An estimated 125 dry bean researchers and 80 pulse researchers from Africa, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and the U.S. were expected to attend.

The Bean Improvement Cooperative opened with a symposium titled “Global Bean Research – Fostering International Collaborations,” featuring speakers from east and South Africa, Dubai, Honduras, Italy and Puerto Rico. Oral and poster presentations covered bean research in:

• Abiotic stress

• Human nutrition

• Biotic crop stress

• Genomics/gene discovery

• Other traits of economic importance

The North American Pulse Improvement Association program is expected to feature keynote speakers from Tufts University in Boston; University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada; and PIRSA-SARDI in Adelaide, South Australia.

Oral and poster presentations by pulse researchers will cover research in:

• Quality and nutrition

• Genomics and tools

• Imaging (UAV, spectroscopy)

• Genetics and agronomics

• Pathology, epidemiology and disease management

• Disease control

The biennial meetings were last held in Fargo in 2001. The 2017 meetings were held in East Lansing, Michigan.

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