• After another strong year, spring bean LG Raptor moves from its P2 rating to fully join the PGRO DL offering high yields, excellent vigour and agronomics
• A second spring bean, LG Viper also fully joins the DL from Limagrain, offering a class-leading disease package
• Blue pea LG Aviator also moves from a P2 to full recommendation with a world-class disease resistance package and standing power
Spring Beans
Yield performance – that is yield and consistency – is the most important factor for spring beans and is a major focus in the Limagrain breeding programme and this can be seen in our spring bean additions to the DL this year,” notes Will Pillinger, pulse breeder at Limagrain UK.-
“LG Raptor offers extremely high yield potential at 102% of control, and importantly has shown a consistency in these yields over the last few years, which is a really important and valuable attribute for a spring bean,” he says.
“But high yields need to be backed up by solid agronomics and traits – and LG Raptor offers all of this – it is fairly early to mature, stands well and offers a good disease package including rust.”
“LG Raptor is suitable for human consumption, fish feed and animal protein markets so offers a range of marketing opportunities.”
Tom Barker, pulses product manager for Limagrain, says.” LG Raptor’s consistent yields and disease resistance package mean it will be taking a big bite into the spring bean acreage – particularly in the north with its particular combination of traits.”
“LG Viper is our second spring bean to fully join the DL and a really exciting spring bean variety that offers a class leading disease package backed up by Limagrain’s comprehensive, extensive and reliable dataset,” says Mr Pillinger.
“Looking in particular at rust resistance; LG Viper’s rating of 7 is stand-out when compared to other varieties in the sector and really worth taking note of. The variety also has a good downey mildew rating of 6.”
“Standing is a really important attribute for on-farm management of spring beans, LG Viper has the highest standing power rating on the DL of 9.”
“Yield-wise the variety sits well up in the top of the pack at 102% of control.”
Mr Barker adds to the breeder’s comments, pointing out that the variety is suitable for the human, fish and animal protein markets offering a high thousand grain weight (633 (g)n (@15%mc) and an excellent protein content (% dry).
Peas
Large blue pea LG Aviator also moves from a P2 rating to a full recommendation with a yield of 100%.
Will Pillinger explains that the reason for these high yields is because LG Aviator is a multi-podded variety type. “For each node that LG Aviator produces, there are three pods, this means there are more pods at the top of the plant rather than spread through the plant, making for a more even maturity with less competition for light – and this is a significant characteristic in building yield.”
He points out that with this stunning and predictable plant habit, this new type of manageable green pea variety makes planning pesticide and nutrient applications far easier than conventional ‘semi-indeterminate’ types. This also applies for predicting the harvest period- which is really useful.
Agronomically there is much to like about the variety he adds. “LG Aviator offers one of the best resistances to downey mildew (8) and is highly resistant to powdery mildew. It’s early, and has good ratings for standing ability and straw length (rated 7) – making it one of the best agronomic packages of any other provisionally rated varieties.”
“Suitable for both human consumption and for animal protein, all of this makes for a very exciting variety and one that should perform well for UK growers. End users have already shown a significant interest in LG Aviator.”
