Faba Bean Breeding

The University of Adelaide Faba Bean Breeding Program is the lead agency for the National Faba Bean Improvement Program, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. Other research orginisations in the National Program include South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), New South Wales Agriculture, Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Agriculture Western Australia and Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Major Research Themes

• Development of a range of breeds to suit varying climatic and biotic environments.
• Development of breeds with suitable requirements for human consumtion rather than breeding markets
• To overcome problems associated with:
  • poor adaptation of current varieties;
  • susceptibility to foliar diseases:
    • Ascochyta Blight,
    • Chocolate Spot and
    • Rust
  • susceptibility to viruses

Australian Faba Bean Varieties

University of Adelaide varieties

Fiord Selected from a landrace originating from the Greek island of Naxos. Released in 1980 and the most widely grown variety in Australia. Susceptible to all foliar diseases. Small seed (approx 45-50 g/100 seeds), buff in colour.

Icarus Derived from the ICARDA line BPL710 which was derived from Ecuadorean germplasm. Released in 1993. Resistant to Chocolate Spot, moderately resistant to rust but susceptible to ascochyta blight. Late flowering an maturing. Medium seed (approx 80-90 g/100 seeds), green in colour.

Ascot VF Ascochyta blight resistant variety selected from Fiord by a modified mass selection method. Released in 1995. Similar to Fiord in most other respects.

Fiesta VF Selected from the ICARDA line BPL1179 which was derived from Spanish germplasm. Released in 1998. Moderately resistant to Ascochyta blight and moderately susceptible to chocolate spot. Small-medium seed (approx 65-70 g/100 seeds), buff in colour. The adoption of Fiesta VF has been very rapid and widespread. It is poised to become the dominant variety in Australia.

Rossa Selected from ICARDA line ILB3025 which was derived from Ecuadorean germplasm. Resistant to rust, moderately susceptible to chocolate spot, susceptible to ascochyta blight. Late flowering and maturing. Small seed (approx 50-55 g/100 seeds), red in colour

Manafest Selected from ICARDA line ILB3026 which was derived from Ecuadorian germplasm and released in 1999. Moderately resistant to chocolate spot and rust, susceptible to Aschochyta blight. Medium flowering and maturity. Tolerant to iron and manganese deficiency occurring on heavy black clay and peat soils in the southeast of SA. Medium seed (approximately 85-100g/100 seeds), buff in colour.

Other Australia varieties

Barkool Farmer selection from Fiord for yield and adaptation in northern NSW. Similar to Fiord in most other respects.

Aquadulce Broad bean grown in high rainfall, long season region of southern South Australia. Well adapted to soils where iron chlorosis is a problem. Several farmer selections of Aquadulce are produced.