Start of research project: Improvement of drought tolerance in faba bean
With climate change and the ongoing changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, winter faba beans are gaining importance as an alternative to the spring type. However, prerequisite for the use of winter faba beans is their further improvement through breeding. The aim of this joint research project is the identification of DNA markers based on association genetic studies to enable marker assisted 'pre-breeding' of winter faba beans with improved drought tolerance.
Field trials with chemical siccation are carried out to investigate whether this method - which is used in cereals to select for drought tolerance - is applicable to faba beans. There is no comparable research work in faba beans up to now. Breeding of drought tolerant winter faba beans will improve their marketing opportunities in Germany and abroad. Worthiness and sustainability of faba bean cultivation as native grain legume will be strengthened.
Contact:
Julius Kühn-Institut - Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance
rs@jki.bund.de, christiane.balko@jki.bund.de
(released 08 Feb 2011)