Pea and bean varieties show breeder has finger on pulse

Valuable traits benefit growers

Two new Limagrain pulses added to the 2024/25 PGRO Descriptive List demonstrate a continuing commitment to the UK sector, says the breeder.

Yielding 110% of control, LG Eagle is the joint highest performing spring bean variety on the list. It is joined by early maturing combining pea LG Corvet – a relatively short variety yielding 111% of control.

Limagrain Field Seeds says LG Eagle has delivered consistently in trials over recent seasons which have been both different and challenging. But the variety has other valuable agronomic characteristic too.

Important attributes

“Consistent performance is an important attribute for a spring bean – and one that growers look for on farm,” says Limagrain UK cereals and pulses product manager Heather Oldfield. “But it’s not just about high yields.”

LG Eagle is also one of the earliest varieties on the list to mature. It stands well – but isn’t too tall – and offers a good disease package too. It is suitable for human consumption, fish feed and animal protein markets.

With limited seed availability for 2025, Heather believes LG Eagle’s consistent yields and disease resistance package mean it will be taking a big bite into the spring bean acreage by 2026.

Yield protection

Combining pea LG Corvet also has a very good standing ability, which is an important attribute for ease of harvesting, while protecting precious yield. Poor standing ability can often be barrier to growing peas,” says Ms Oldfield.

“LG Corvet offers an exceptional downey mildew resistance rating of 8 – the result of a concerted focus from Limagrain on breeding for resistance against this devastating disease in peas,” she notes.

The variety holds one of the highest dry protein percentages at 22.2%.

Target traits suit UK climate

An increase in demand for pulses is encouraging breeders to introduce and enhance varietal traits using the latest techniques.

routine diagnostic marker assisted selection.

Limagrain is harnessing the benefits of routine diagnostic trait selection – which allows the breeder to undertake rapid generation cycling. New varieties are then put into schemes for testing in the UK and Europe..

Disease resistance

Target traits sought for peas include reliable yields with consistently high protein levels, resistance to lodging, and tolerance and resistance to diseases, the results of which we are seeing in LG Corvet.

“Cold tolerance without damaging the protein percentage is also an important trait for growing in more northerly climates,” says Heather Oldfield.

Testing builds a comprehensive data set and highlights which varieties are adapted to multiple environments, so Limagrain can identify the best high quality, stable varieties – and determine optimum drill timings.

“We also continue to work closely with key stakeholders in the marketplace to develop varieties fit for future purpose for UK growers.”