United Kingdom
November 19, 2014
GENERAL COMMENTS
“Recommended Lists are about long-term averages where highs and lows are averaged out,” says Stephen Belcher, PGRO Principal Technical Officer, at the launch of the new PGRO lists for combining peas, winter beans and spring beans funded by the PGRO voluntary Pulse Levy. “New varieties often come along in a blaze of glory, but gradually settle down and find their order in yield rankings.
“For example, two established varieties Prophet (combining pea) and Fuego (spring bean) in 2014 have bucked the trend somewhat and have turned in very good yields. Of course, where there are winners there often losers, and in general the marrowfats gave lower than expected performance.
“With the advent of CAP greening measures and difficulties in establishing oilseed rape this autumn we are hopeful of an increased pulse area for 2015. With this in mind, it is pleasing to note the advances in pulse varieties. As an example, the spring bean Recommended List of 2010 contained just one fully recommended pale hilum bean, Fuego. Five years on, the 2015 List contains seven varieties in the same category, all of which are fully recommended, with the latest additions bringing very worthwhile yield increases for growers.”
COMMENTARY ON THE NEW PGRO RECOMMENDED LISTS …
COMBINING PEAS
Overall trial yields (5.1t/ha) of peas were marginally up on the 5-year (5.02t/ha) average. Six trials went through to harvest, with yields ranging from 6.55t/ha in Hampshire to 4.21t/ha in Hampshire.
There were no changes to the white pea category with Salamanca, Mascara and Gregor all remaining fully recommended. Similarly, large blues, Crackerjack, Prophet and Daytona remain with a full recommendation.
Campus continues into P2 recommendation, giving another strong yield performance. Along with Prophet, it is the joint top yielding variety on the List and has a very good rating for standing ability (8).
New to the List for 2015 is Bluetooth (LS Plant Breeding). Yields fall just short of the best and combines a reasonable agronomic package with better than average downy mildew resistance.
Maple peas Mantara and Rose continue with a full recommendation while Rainbow moves to P2 recommendation. Mantara maintains a yield advantage over Rose and Rainbow is a little behind Rose. The marrowfats group in general did not perform as well as previously. Sakura, Neon and Genki remain fully recommended varieties.
After a poor performance in 2014, a decision on the full recommendation of Bibao was deferred and the variety remains provisionally recommended (P3).
WINTER BEANS
Many winter bean crops grew very tall in 2014. Some of these brackled, where the stem snaps at some point above ground level. This occurred late in the growing season and yields did not appear to be affected. Generally winter beans yielded very well. 2014 trial yields (5.89t/ha) were 33% higher than the 5-year (4.42t/ha) average.
Of the pale hilum types, Wizard and Honey remain fully recommended varieties. Tundra tops the winter bean yield rankings and continues into P2 recommendation.
Two new winter beans, Thor and Saracen, both from Limagrain UK gain a first year (P1) provisional recommendation for 2015. Yields were a little higher than fully recommended Wizard, but lower than Tundra. Both have relatively short, stiff straw.
In the black hilum (feed bean) category, Clipper and Arthur remain fully recommended varieties and Buzz continues into the P2 category.
SPRING BEANS
2014 trial yields (5.68t/ha) were 25% higher than the 5-year average (4.53t/ha). Some good information on downy mildew was obtained this year.
Boxer, Fury, Fuego, Pyramid and Babylon all remain Fully Recommended varieties.
Gaining Full Recommendation status for 2015 are Vertigo and Fanfare. Yields are not quite as spectacular as on the 2014 List, but both are still high yielding. Vertigo is the top yielding variety, significantly out-yielding Fuego, while Fanfare is a little behind Vertigo. Downy mildew for these varieties has improved (5) compared to Fury (6), Fuego and Pyramid (5) and Babylon (7).
Tic bean Maris Bead also remains fully recommended.
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