Snowdon

Bean

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Beluga' and 'Yeti'

Summary: The plants of 'Snowdon' are shorter than those of 'Beluga'. At full flowering, the upper side of the leaf for 'Snowdon' is dark green with strong rugosity whereas it is medium green with medium rugosity for both 'Beluga' and 'Yeti'. The terminal leaf for 'Snowdon' is narrower than that of 'Yeti'. The position of the inflorescences on the plants of 'Snowdon' is intermediate, within and above the foliage, whereas the inflorescences are predominantly within the foliage for both reference varieties. The flower bracts for 'Snowdon' are large whereas they are medium sized for 'Beluga' and small to medium in size for 'Yeti'. At fresh market maturity, the pod of 'Snowdon' is longer than the pod of 'Beluga' and wider and thicker than the pods of both reference varieties. The pod beak for 'Snowdon' is longer than that of both reference varieties. The seed weight for 'Snowdon' is greater than that of both reference varieties. The seed of 'Snowdon' is kidney shaped whereas the seed of 'Beluga' is rectangular in shape. The seed of 'Snowdon' is narrower than that of 'Beluga' and longer than that of both reference varieties. The plants of 'Snowdon' flower earlier than those of both 'Beluga' and 'Yeti'.

Description:

PLANT: dwarf growth type, determinate growth type, erect branches

LEAF: dark green on upper side, strong rugosity
TERMINAL LEAFLET: quadrangular shape, long tip

FLOWERING: flowers mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: intermediate position (within and above foliage) at full flowering
FLOWER: large bracts, white standard and wing

POD: ovate shape in cross-section, green ground colour of weak intensity, secondary colour absent, stringiness of ventral suture absent, absent or very weak curvature, acute to truncate distal part with beak excluded, absent or very weak curvature of beak, smooth surface, weak constrictions at dry stage
SEED: white kidney type, kidney shape in longitudinal section, weak curvature, medium elliptic shape in cross-section
SEED COAT: white

Origin & Breeding History: 'Snowdon' (experimental designation K08961) originated from a controlled cross conducted in the winter of 2005 between K04604 and USDK-CBB-15. The breeding work was conducted under the direction of James D. Kelly at Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. In the spring of 2005, F1 plants were grown and selfed in a greenhouse in East Lansing, Michigan. In 2006, a single plant was selected at Montcalm, Michigan based on growth habit, lodging, maturity, dry down uniformity as well as seed colour and size. In 2006, the seed from a single F2:3 progeny row was mass selected in Isabela, Puerto Rico based on pod loading, seed size, seed shape and disease resistance. In the summer of 2007, a single plant was selected from the F2:4 progeny row in Montcalm, Michigan, based on growth habit, lodging, pod load and placement, maturity and commercial seed traits. In the winter of 2007, a single plant was selected from the F4:5 progeny row in Isabela, Puerto Rico, based on growth habit, lodging, pod load and placement, maturity, commercial seed traits and disease resistance. In the summer of 2008, an F4:6 breeding line was designated as K08961, in Montcalm, Michigan and entered in replicated yield trials and canning quality assessment. From 2009 to 2011, 'K08961' was advanced from F7 to F9 and yield tested at various locations in Michigan as well as further assessed for disease resistance and canning quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Snowdon' was conducted by Bioflora Inc., during the 2017 growing season at the University of Guelph Huron Research Station in Exeter, Ontario. The trial was conducted using a RCB design containing 4 replicates per variety. Each replicate consisted of 2 rows spaced 76 cm apart, with a row length of 5 metres. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety, except seed weight, which was based on 4 measurements per variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student`s t-test. Results were supported by the official technical examination report 201500009, purchased from the Plant Variety Protection Office in Beltsville, Maryland, USA.

Comparison tables for 'Snowdon' with reference varieties 'Beluga' and 'Yeti'

Plant height (cm)

Terminal leaf width (cm)

Pod length (excluding beak)(cm)

Pod width (cm)

Pod thickness (cm)

Pod beak length (cm)

Seed weight (g/100 seeds)

Seed width (in cross-section) (cm)

Seed length (cm)

Time of flowering (50% of plants with at least one flower) (days)

Click on image for larger view

Bean: 'Snowdon' (left) with reference varieties 'Beluga' (centre) and 'Yeti' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Bean: 'Snowdon' (left) with reference varieties 'Beluga' (centre) and 'Yeti' (right)