A very high-yielding spring bean and the first marrowfat pea with a nine for downy mildew resistance are just two of the variety developments on the new 2012 Pulse Recommended Lists.

In addition, a white pea and a winter bean make their first appearance, while another winter bean variety has made a comeback.

Strada, a marrowfat pea from Limagrain, joins the list in its first year of provisional recommendation, as the second highest-yielding marrowfat at 89%, just one point behind Neon.

The first to have excellent resistance to downy mildew, with a nine rating, Strada is a little later to mature than other marrowfats and has moderate standing ability, reports PGRO’s principal technical officer, Steve Belcher.

“Strada will be of interest because its downy mildew score means that it can be sown without a seed treatment,” he says.

Also joining the combining peas list is Kenzzo, a white pea from Senova. In its first year of provisional recommendation, Kenzzo yields slightly less than Mascara and Gregor, at 99%, but offers good standing ability and very good downy mildew resistance.

Other changes to the combining peas list see marrowfats Falstaff and Kahuna becoming outclassed, while Neon moves to its second year of provisional recommendation. In the white peas, Salamanca is now in its second year of provisional recommendation, while Ragtime is outclassed.

Both Bluestar and Daytona are now fully recommended in the large blues category, as is maple pea Mantara. Madras is not recommended.

The new spring bean, Boxer, from Senova, offers the highest yields at 110%. A pale hilum type, Boxer has similar maturity and straw length to top-selling Fuego, good standing ability and a downy mildew rating of five.

“At this stage, it looks exciting,” says Mr Belcher. “It has a 3% yield improvement over Pyramid and a 5% advantage over Fuego.”

Both Pyramid and Fury move to fully recommended, while Babylon is now in its second year of provisional recommendation.

Honey, the new winter bean from Wherrys, has short, stiff straw and very good standing ability, reveals Mr Belcher.

With a yield of 92%, it is below both Husky and Wizard, he acknowledges. “But it has better standing ability and a high thousand-seed weight, similar to that of Wizard.”

Husky, the highest yielding winter bean with a pale hilum, is now fully recommended.

In the black hilum category, Clipper makes a re-appearance, having first been listed in 1998 and since becoming outclassed.

“Clipper is a very tall, vigorous variety,” explains Mr Belcher. “The very dry springs suit these types and their yields have improved. In Clipper’s case, it went from 98 to 100%.”

Taller winter bean varieties also set their bottom pods a bit higher off the ground, he adds. “That is beneficial in a dry year and makes harvesting more straightforward. So there are good reasons for Clipper’s revival and we are told that seed will be available.”

Pulse Recommended Lists 2012 – Additions and changes

Winter beans

Pale hilum beans – Recommended: Husky, P1: Honey

Black hilum beans – Recommended: Clipper

Spring beans

Pale hilum beans – Recommended: Pyramid, Fury, P2: Babylon, P1: Boxer

Peas

White peas – P2: Salamanca, P1: Kenzzo

Large blues – Recommended: Bluestar, Daytona

Maple peas – Recommeded: Mantara

Marrowfats – P2: Neon, P1: Strada