DL Rico

Faba bean

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Snowbird' and 'DL Tesoro'

Summary: The leaflets of 'DL Rico' are larger than those of 'Snowbird' and 'DL Tesoro'. Up to and including the first flowering node, the stem of 'DL Rico' has a medium number of nodes whereas the stem of 'Snowbird' has many nodes. The plants of 'DL Rico' mature late in the season while those of 'Snowbird' mature mid-season. The one hundred dry seed weight of 'DL Rico' is greater than that of 'Snowbird'.

Description:

PLANT: indeterminate growth type, flowers mid-season, matures late season

STEM: medium number of nodes up to and including the first flowering node

FOLIAGE: medium green, maximum width of leaflet positioned at middle

FLOWER: no melanin spot present on wing, anthocyanin colouration on standard absent

POD: semi-erect attitude, brown black colour at maturity
SEED: elliptic shape in median longitudinal section, grey beige colour of testa immediately after harvest, black pigmentation of hilum absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'DL Rico' (experimental designation NPZ 14.7340) originated from the cross made between the varieties ('02.7410' x 'P 1419.90') x ('Expresso' x ('Gloria' x 'Divine')) at the Norddeutsche Planzenzucht breeding station in Hohenlieth, Germany in 2006. The variety was developed using the pedigree breeding method with isolation cages to maintain genetic purity. The line was selected and purity confirmed at the F6 generation in 2012. Selection criteria included low vicine and convicine content, straw stiffness, maturity, and protein content, pod fertility and plant length. In 2014, at the F10 and later generations, 'DL Rico' was trialed in Morden, Manitoba and Edmonton, Alberta and was subsequently trialed in 2016 in the Western Canada Faba Bean Cooperative Trials at 10 locations across Western Canada.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'DL Rico' were conducted at the DL Seeds Research Station in Morden, Manitoba during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. The trials were arranged in a RCB design consisting of 3 replications per variety. Plots consisted of 6 rows 4 metres in length with a row spacing of 17 cm and a planting density of 50 plants per square metre. For each variety, measurements were based on a minimum of 100 measurements per year except for seed weight which was based on 3 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'DL Rico' with reference varieties 'Snowbird' and 'DL Tesoro'

Leaflet length (basal pair at second flowering node) (cm)

Leaflet width (basal pair at second flowering node) (cm)

Seed weight (grams per 100 seeds) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Faba bean: 'DL Rico' (top) with reference variety 'Snowbird' (bottom left)

Click on image for larger view

Faba bean: 'DL Rico' (top) with reference variety 'Snowbird' (bottom right)