PGRO announces new 2010 pulse recommended lists for spring peas, spring beans and winter beans

The new 2010 Recommended Lists for spring peas, spring beans and winter beans were announced today (27 November) at a press briefing held at the PGRO offices, Thornhaugh, near Peterborough.

The Recommended Lists are based on the 2009 trials programme which is wholly funded by PGRO Pulse Levy. The PGRO is a non statutory levy body which promotes and carries out research and development in peas and beans.

SPRING PEAS

White grain: High-yielding Gregor and Respect progressed from P1 to P2 recommendation. Mascara and Ragtime remain fully recommended, and Mascara retains its position as the highest yielding variety on the List.

Large blue: Daytona, Bluestar and Madras were added to the list with a provisional (P1) recommendation. Yields of Daytona are only a little lower than Crackerjack. Yields of Bluestar match those of market leader Prophet and Madras is a little lower yielding. Top yielding large blue Crackerjack gains full recommendation, while Prophet remains fully recommended.

Small blue: Hawaii remains fully recommended.

Maple pea: Mantara is added to the list with a provisional (P1) recommendation; it is very high yielding for its category. Rose remains fully recommended.

Marrowfat: Sakura, Genki, Falstaff and Kahuna all remain fully recommended varieties.

[White grain Aviso was withdrawn from RL consideration by the breeder. Outclassed varieties Bilbo (white), Venture and Nitouche (large blue), and Samson (marrowfat) were removed from the list. Bluemoon (large blue) failed to gain full recommendation and was also removed from the list.]

SPRING BEANS

Pyramid and Fury, two new high-yielding pale hilum beans, have been added to the list with a provisional (P1) recommendation. Pyramid becomes the highest-yielding spring bean, but is closely followed by Fury, and both are a little higher yielding than Fuego.

Fuego, the market leader, remains the only fully recommended pale hilum spring bean.

Tattoo, a white-flowered low tannin variety progresses from P1 to P2 recommendation.

Maris Bead, a black hilum tic bean, remains fully recommended.

[Betty and Memphis failed to gain full recommendation and were removed from the list. Atlas was considered for P1 recommendation, but was not added. Ben was moved to outclassed.]

WINTER BEANS

Husky gained provisional (P1) recommendation, matching the yields of the market leader Wizard. Like Wizard, it has a pale hilum and skin and could be suitable for export markets.

Sultan also has a pale hilum and progresses from P1 to P2 recommendation.

Wizard and Arthur remain fully recommended.

[Clipper remains in the outclassed category for a further year.]