United Kingdom
November 27, 2023
Four new pulse varieties from Senova have joined the PGRO Descriptive Lists for 2024.
These include the company’s first new spring bean for a while, as well as a new winter bean and two new spring pea varieties.
All bring additional choice to growers and extend the range of variety characteristics on offer, at a time when interest in pulses and sustainable farming systems is increasing.
New spring bean Navara, which has a high yield of 106, comes onto the list with an attractive combination of agronomic characteristics and the pale hilum and good seed size required by the export market.
With a 5 for earliness, Navara has an 8 for standing ability with a 5 rating for downy mildew resistance and a 6 for rust.
A Thousand Seed Weight of 552g and a protein content of 26.2% will add to its appeal, says Senova’s managing director Tom Tewbrey, who highlights Navara’s field performance and market acceptability.
“Navara is a really good package and we are pleased to see it join the Descriptive List,” he says. “Senova has been very strong in the winter bean market for the last few years, so it is great to also have a high performing spring bean variety to offer.”
Ninja, the company’s new winter bean variety, is an early, short type, which suits a certain market.
With a yield of 98, it has an earliness score of 7.9 and a straw length of 105cm, along with a standing ability of 8.1. Good disease resistance ratings, along with a seed size of 623g and a protein content of 27.3% are complemented by a pale hilum.
For another year, Senova’s existing Vespa and Vincent winter bean varieties remain at the top of the Descriptive List, with yields of 109 and 107 respectively. The company’s Bumble, Bonneville, Norton and Honey continue to sell well.
“Ninja adds to the winter bean options available to growers,” says Tom. “Seed won’t be available immediately, but there are plenty of other Senova variety choices for 2024.”
Senova’s new yellow spring pea, Batist, and new green pea, Shazam, have also been listed.
Batist is a very high yielding variety on 113, with the agronomic strengths that growers look for in good standing power and robust disease resistance, including pea wilt.
It joins Senova’s existing variety Kameleon as a high performing choice, giving pea growers the opportunity to realise its full potential. A seed size of 304g and a protein content of 21.6% are further attributes.
Shazam is a green pea with a yield of 101, straw length of 87cm and an earliness score of 4.
Another variety with good standing ability, Shazam is resistant to pea wilt and has a 6 rating for downy mildew. It also has a seed size of 261g and a protein content of 22.2%.
“Both Batist and Shazam offer more choice and demonstrate the progress being made with the pea crop, at a time when climate-friendly farming practices are front of mind,” says Tom.
Seed of Batist and Shazam will be available for spring 2025 plantings.
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