AWB Releases New Fababean

SYDNEY - Oct 27/05 - SNS -- Australia's wheat marketing board's seed company, AWB Seeds is releasing a new fababean variety called Nura, which features improved resistance to ascochyta, chocolate spot and rust.

AWB Seeds Manager Denis McGrath said Nura has been produced from a cross between Icarus and Ascot and is suited to medium and high rainfall areas of South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales.

"Nura has a broad adaptation, provided it is sown early in low rainfall areas, and provides a low disease risk alternative to other varieties sown in southern Australia," McGrath said today.

"Nura is a mid flowering variety which is shorter in height than Fiesta and Farah, more similar to Fiord, and is less likely to lodge, however its bottom pods may be closer to the ground."

McGrath said Nura also had a stronger stem and improved lodging resistance to Fiesta and Farah and that its tolerance to soil boron was also better than other current bean varieties.

"The seed size of Nura is 5-10% smaller than Fiesta and Farah, but 30-40% larger than Fiord," McGrath said. "The grain is light buff in color and considered ideal for the Egyptian market."

Nura has been bred by Dr Jeff Paull from the University of Adelaide as part of the National Fababean Breeding Program.