Futura

Faba bean

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fabelle' and 'DL Rico'

Summary: The leaflets of ‘Futura' are shorter than those of ‘DL Rico'. The anthocyanin colouration on the stem of ‘Futura' is weak whereas it is absent on the stem of ‘DL Rico'. The flower of ‘Futura' is shorter than that of ‘DL Rico'. The wing of ‘Futura' has a black melanin spot and the extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower standard is small whereas ‘DL Rico' has no melanin spot or anthocyanin colouration. At the beginning of ripening, the plants of ‘Futura' are taller than the plants of 'Fabelle'.

Description:

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

STEM: weak anthocyanin colouration, medium number of nodes up to and including the first flowering node

FOLIAGE: medium green, maximum width of leaflets positioned towards the base

FLOWER: black melanin spot present on wing, small extent of colouration on standard

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

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Futura' (experimental designation RLS97028) is a synthetic variety that originated from the following four synthetic components: NPZ 15.7301, NPZ 9033, NPZ 15.7001 and NPZ H8672. The breeding process was carried out at the breeding station in Hohenlieth, Germany. The Syn-0 generation was produced in an isolation cage in 2015 whereas the Syn-1 to Syn-4 generations were produced in an open-pollinated NPZ field nursery from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, the Syn-4 generation was tested in 7 locations in Germany and also evaluated for yield, protein content, straw stiffness, maturity, vicine and convicine content and resistance to Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) and Downy mildew (Peronospora viciae). Breeder seed was established in 2018 under isolation.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘Futura' were conducted at the DL Seeds Research Station in Stanley, Manitoba during the 2022 and 2024 growing seasons. The trials were arranged in a RCB Design and consisted of 3 replications per variety. The plots consisted of six rows 4 metres in length with a row spacing of 17 cm. The planting density of 77 plants per square metre resulted in a total of 314 plants per variety for each plot. Measured characteristics were based on 100 measurements of each variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Futura' with reference varieties 'Fabelle' and 'DL Rico'

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

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

Plant height (at beginning of ripening) (cm)

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Faba bean: ‘Futura' (bottom) with reference variety ‘Fabelle' (top)

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Faba bean: Reference variety ‘DL Rico' (top)