Lablab (Lablab purpureus [L.] Sweet) is a vining, herbaceous tropical legume with high nutritive value as a forage or browse for ruminant animals. Useful qualities of this tropical forage include drought tolerance, high palatability, high nutritive value, excellent forage yields and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.
‘Rio Verde’ lablab was developed through selection for tolerance to defoliation, forage production potential and Texas seed production. ‘Rio Verde’ was developed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, Texas and released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research in 2006. ‘Rio Verde’ is the first lablab cultivar developed in the US and also has the value-added trait of Texas seed production.
‘Rio Verde’ was developed through cooperative research with the following scientists:
Dr. Bill Ocumpaugh, Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Beeville
Dr. Jim Muir, Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Stephenville
Dr. James Reed, Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Dallas
Dr. F.M. Rouquette, Jr. – Overton
Seed production of Rio Verde was discontinued in 2011 after anthracnose leaf and stem disease in west Texas seed production fields.
Anthracnose disease resistant experimental Lablab cultivars are in advanced trials at Overton in 2024.