Overview

Origin and breeding of the variety. The original cross and early generations were made at the USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit at Washington State University. Following generation advance and development of pure lines, 23 advanced breeding lines, including CA04900761C, were shared with Dr. Steve Temple in 2007, then bean breeder in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Following several years of evaluation of the  advanced breeding lines in California, one line, CA04900761C (re-numbered as UCD0901 by S. Temple) was selected for release. Objective and Botanical description of the variety: UC Vega is a compound-pinnate leaf type and, as such, its agronomic performance should be evaluated primarily in comparison with other pinnate-leaved types. The current standard compound, pinnate-leafed cultivar in California is ‘Sutter’, a PVP release (No. 200300335, issued 08/07/2009) held by Bean Cooperatives in Common (Tracy, CA). Compared to the variety Sutter, line UC Vega has similar yields, larger seeds, better canning quality, better seed appearance, and comparable tolerance to two pathotypes of Ascochyta (Table 2). Thus, UC Vega has better quality components and similar yields. Both Sutter and UC Vega have similar, composite leaves (Figure 1). Average plant canopy height and width of UC Vega have been observed to be slightly smaller than those of Sutter, with height and width of UC Vega being 19.4” and 18.2” respectively, while height and width of Sutter in the same field were 21.6” and 23.2” on the same date. Both lines were classed as “semi?erect”. UC Vega may also be one or two days later in flower set and maturity than Sutter.          Area of adaptation and primary use of the variety: The most important breeding objectives for garbanzos in California are yield, adaptation to the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, visual seed characteristics for the dry-pack market (consistent size, color, and wrinkling), aptitude to canning, and resistance to Ascochyta leaf blight. In particular, UC Vega represents an improvement over ‘Sutter’ because of comparable yields, while maintaining the other traits under selection. In the case of this variety, an additional important consideration is the access to an improved garbanzo variety that competes with the current industry standard ‘Sutter’. The latter variety is subject to a PVP, certificate no. 200300335, issued on 08/07/2009, owned by Bean Cooperatives in Common, Tracy, CA 95378. Non-members of the Cooperatives do not have  access to ‘Sutter’. Thus, there is an interest on the part of some growers and handlers for an alternative, public variety. Additional information to assist Field and Seed Inspectors.

1. Expected variability (kind and frequency). The number of leaflets per leaf of UC Vega may vary, but are generally around 15, making it clearly distinguishable from simple-leaf Kabuli types.

2. Prominent identifying characteristics of both plants and seed. UC Vega is a compound?leaf Kabuli-type garbanzo. Flowers are white, and form pods that are around 23mm at maturity, which is slightly smaller than the 24.6mm length of Sutter. UC Vega generally forms one, but less frequently two large seeds per pod.

Data Sheets