The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has added seven new pea and bean varieties to its 2023 Descriptive List for pulses.

Trials were conducted successfully and the varieties grown across the country demonstrated impressive consistency in terms of yield and disease resistance.

The Descriptive List, launched at CropTec in Peterborough, has six new combining peas and one new winter bean, with the possibility of up to four spring beans being included at a later date, pending National Listing – more than double the amount of new varieties which debuted on the 2022 list.

The list also gives growers the opportunity to compare different varieties and evaluate which will suit their situation.

“High-yielding varieties have maintained their good performance, and other traits such as disease ratings also retain similar scores to before with the addition of new supporting data. The list now includes a score for downy mildew and rust on winter beans," explained PGRO Senior Technical Officer, Christopher Judge.

“The summer heatwaves led to early harvesting of most crops, with the first pea trial – in Essex – being harvested on July 18 – which is 17 days earlier than in 2021. On average spring bean trials were harvested 23 days earlier than in 2021.”

Two yellow combining peas – Glam (bred by Senova) and LG Ajax (Limagrain) – are new additions to the list, while the three new green pea varieties are Butterfly (LS Plant Breeding), KWS Gotham (KWS), and Kiravi (Senova).

A new variety of Marrowfat has made the list; Takayama (LS Plant Breeding), and has become the highest yielder in that category, achieving a 96% yield. Bonneville (Senova) is the only new winter bean addition to the 2023 list, with yields above average at 102% and it has the second highest protein content on the list.

Four new high-yielding spring bean varieties have performed well, which are Genius, Futura (both LS Plant Breeding), LG Stego (Limagrain) and Focus (Saaten Union), however have not yet received UK National List status and therefore have not been added to the Descriptive List.

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