Amplifying mung bean diversity to support resettled refugee food security in Vermont
Kalish, Mia
Kalish, Mia
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Abstract
As a part of the Food Systems Summer Undergraduate Research Project, 53 different accessions of mung beans from the USDA seed bank were grown at the University of Vermont�s Horticulture Farm. Mung beans have the potential to thrive in Vermont and are grown in Nepali and Bhutanese refugee communities. They are climate-resilient, drought-tolerant, highly nutritious, and protein-rich. Due to these qualities, mung beans are an important crop in sustainable agriculture. The potential for mung beans to benefit the refugee population of Vermont should not be overlooked. Examining how mung beans grow in this climate, promoting the biodiversity of this crop, and exploring different ways the plant can be cooked will be crucial for promoting food security within the local refugee communities. In this project, around 1000 seeds were planted, yielding around 600 plants of 53 different accessions. These plants were evaluated for plant height, stand data, chlorophyll levels, number of nodules in roots, yield, and size of seed, pest resistance, viral signs, and fungal signs. These variables were used to inform the selection of several types of seed that exhibited the best agronomic traits, suggesting which types of seed would be most suitable to grow in Vermont, to support food security for local refugees. This project yielded the best results in the following seven accessions, listed from highest to lowest performing: PI 377304 01 SD (MB65), PI 426029 01 SD (MB64), PI 473922 01 (SDMB33), PI 363217 02 SD (MB 80), PI 517909 01 (SD MB 4), PI 474001 01 SD (MB 72), and PI 369794 01 SD (MB 68). These performed best when analyzed for disease, yield weight, emergence, individual average seed weight, growing position, number of root nodules present, positioning of seed on the plant, and chlorophyll levels.
Description
Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Environmental Sciences
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Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
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Life Science