Breeding of field bean (Vicia faba L.) with early maturity

Breeding work to develop varieties adaptable to Finnish conditions was initiated at the Hankkija Plant Breeding Institute in 1969. The production of field bean seeds was considered a means of substituting for imported protein feed sources. Finland is a very marginal production area; varieties grown in Finland must be adapted to sowing in May and to short summers with long days and cool autumn weather. Local populations maturing early were frequently used in crosses with foreign material. Strains from the ICARDA collection and Soviet varieties included in the crosses considerably increased the genetic basis of the breeding material. Some 214 crosses were made in 1970—87. Two commercial varieties, Hankkijan Mikko and Hankkijan Ukko, were released during the course of the programme. They were about two weeks earlier in maturing than, e.g. the German variety Herz Freya. Crosses and selections of current interest are aimed at reaching still earlier maturity than that of Mikko and Ukko. Determinate habit with ti gene has been transferred to locally adapted early material in order to attain lines with reduced vegetative growth,uniform ripening and improved lodging resistance. The white-flowered character is combined with earliness and determinate habit in order to obtain a lowered tannin content in seeds