Dry bean variety development at AAFC-Morden

The breeding objectives at AAFC– Morden have focused on major bean market classes, including pinto, navy and black beans, as other minor bean types (e.g., small red, Great Northern, yellow, pink) occupy low acreages and the variety replacement process is generally very slow. These breeding and research efforts have responded to changes in production trends, such as demand for more upright growth for direct harvest and later maturity for higher yield potential. And the program has carried out research projects on the application of molecular markers to disease resistance, seed quality and genetics of agronomic characteristics (e.g., maturity, yield and seed germination).