Faba Bean
FABA BEAN
There are varying sizes of faba bean seeds and colour that
are identified by different names. Small-seeded types (Vicia
faba var. minor) may be called faba bean or tickbean and
are commonly used for human consumption and animal
feed. Medium and large size seed types (V. faba var.
major) may be called broad bean and are used more
commonly as a dry broad bean or as a green bean.
Faba beans grown in Australia are predominately exported
for the human consumption export market to the Middle
East. These markets demand high visual quality standards
to meet market specifications in a relatively small world
export market. Australia competes with the European
Union, particularly the United Kingdom and France, for a
share of the 300,000 tonne Middle East market. Middle
Eastern countries use faba bean for human consumption
as part of the staple diet. It is referred to as ‘foul’ which is
equivalent to bread as a staple in Australian diets.
The market demand for the Middle East is consistent and if
there is a surplus of product produced in Australia, expect
to see a price decrease.
REVIEW OF 2014
Season
The good opening rains, sunny days and mild growing
conditions into winter gave faba beans an excellent start. In
the latter half of winter cooler dry conditions and frosts
slowed growth but also substantially reduced aphid
populations.
With dry conditions and strong winds in early spring faba
beans failed to realise their potential. A late frost in
November caused flowers to abort and pods to burst in the
southern Wimmera and south west regions.
Faba beans in the North East did well with excellent quality
and average to above average yields. Those on irrigation
also fared well. Some crops in the northern Mallee on
stored moisture from summer rain performed well as they
matured before the hot weather. Elsewhere yields varied
from below to well below average.
Quality was generally good overall.
The total area sown to faba bean is continuing to see a
resurgence, with improved understanding of agronomy and
disease management along with excellent commodity
prices. In recent years some growers using wide row, no-till
cropping have found faba beans profitable as the lower
pods are able to fill properly.
Disease and insects
Rust and chocolate spot were observed over late winter
and treated with fungicides, but as conditions dried off
fungal diseases did not develop.
A change in the ascochyta pathotype in the mid-north of
South Australia this year meant some resistance in the
faba bean genetics was overcome, but this pathotype did
not reach Victoria during 2014.
The warm start to the growing season increased the
number of insects and the potential for viruses. Again frosts
and drier conditions meant this did not continue except for
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Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
some sporadic insect damage. However there could be
some seed staining from Pea seedborne mosaic virus.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2015
New varieties
PBA Samira is the first of a new series of high yielding faba
beans to be released. These lines are expected to offer
yield advantages of 5-10% in most regions. Samira is
suited to the longer season environments and is expected
to replace Farah and Fiesta.
Pod set
Sowing early does not necessarily result in greater pod set,
but wider row spacings may help sunlight to penetrate the
canopy and increase podding. Sow in areas away from
canola paddocks to avoid bees being diverted to the
stronger odour of the canola. Sow away from field pea
crops to minimise aphid transmission of viruses, particularly
pea seed borne mosaic virus (PSbMV).
Disease
Growers need to be prepared for a shift in virulence as the
new strain of ascochyta spreads from South Australia to
Victoria. All varieties should be monitored carefully.
If 2015 provides good sowing conditions and adequate rain
during the grain fill period, it is highly recommended that
growers spray bean crops for disease control. The 6-8
week and 15 week growth stages are the important timing
to minimise ascochyta blight, cercospora leaf spot and
chocolate spot in order to maximise yield and harvest
disease free seed. Prompt harvest when the crop is initially
ripe is also important to retain grain quality. Anecdotally,
Aquadulce and PBA Kareema rated better for chocolate
spot resistance compared to Nura and Farah.
All current varieties are susceptible to cercospora leaf spot.
MORE INFORMATION
www.nvtonline.com.au
Detailed NVT trial results and links to variety information.
 Australian Field Crop Disease Guide app
www.extensionaus.com.au/australian-field-cropdisease-guide-app
www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/grains-and-othercrops
 AG0083 Growing faba bean
 AG1347 Pulse disease guide
www.pulseaus.com.au
Pulse Australia has detailed information on growing pulses.
VARIETY DESCRIPTIONS
denotes Plant Breeder Rights apply
End Point Royalty (EPR) 2015-16 quoted $/tonne ex-GST.
Broad bean - AQUADULCE
Tall late flowering broad bean with some tolerance to
waterlogging as well as iron and manganese deficiencies.
Best suited to high rainfall districts (>450mm). MS to
ascochyta blight, chocolate spot and rust. Released 1982.
Faba Bean
Broad bean - PBA KAREEMA
PBA Kareema is a direct replacement for Aquadulce. PBA
Kareema requires a long growing season similar to
Aquadulce and rainfall greater than 450mm. It is RMR to
ascochyta blight and MS to chocolate spot. PBA Kareema
is only recommended for the south west region of Victoria.
Released 2009. PGG Wrightson Seeds. EPR $4.
Faba bean - PBA RANA
Relatively late flowering and maturing variety suited to
higher rainfall, long season regions. Seed is larger than
current varieties and is considered high quality by the major
Egyptian market. Resistant to both foliar and seed
ascochyta blight with improved resistance to chocolate spot
compared to Fiesta and Farah. Seednet. EPR $3.50.
Faba bean - FARAH
Farah is similar to Fiesta but has good ascochyta blight
resistance (both leaf and pod), which reduces grain
staining from ascochyta at harvest. Farah yield is similar to
Fiesta across southern Australia and performs best in
medium rainfall environments. Released 2004. Heritage
Seeds. EPR $3.
Faba bean - PBA SAMIRA
A new higher yielding variety with wide adaption. Excellent
disease resistance and later flowering mean it can take
advantage of late rainfall in longer season environments.
Seed is a similar size to Fiesta and Farah and is suited to
Middle East markets. Excellent ascochyta resistance and
improved resistance to chocolate spot and rust compared
to Fiesta and Farah. Developed by PBA (as AF05069-2).
Released 2014. Seednet. EPR $3.50.
Faba bean - FIESTA VF
A medium sized bean, Fiesta has good yields and wide
adaptation throughout southern Australia. It has good
seedling vigour and is of medium height. Fiesta is MRMS to
foliar ascochyta blight, MS to seed ascochyta and S to
chocolate spot. Released 1998.
POTENTIAL NEW VARIETIES from Pulse Breeding
Australia.
Faba bean – AF05095-1
A new higher yielding breeding line. A later flowering and
maturing variety that has performed very well in longer
season environments. Seed is larger than Fiesta and Farah
and similar to PBA Rana and should be suited to Middle
East markets. Good overall response to diseases,
provisionally rated as resistant to Ascochyta and chocolate
spot. Developed by PBA. Release anticipated in time for
the 2016 growing season. Seednet. EPR to be determined.
Faba bean - NURA
Nura is shorter than Fiesta and Farah and less likely to
lodge, however the bottom pods are closer to the ground.
RMR to ascochyta blight, MS to chocolate spot and rust.
Nura needs to be sown early as it flowers about seven
days later than Fiesta, but it matures at a similar time.
Released 2005. Seednet. EPR $3.
Table 1: Faba bean time of sowing guide.
This table is a guide only and has been compiled from observations of the breeder and local departmental agronomists.
MALLEE
April
May
June
Farah, Fiesta, PBA Samira
> X X X < <
WIMMERA
Aquadulce, Farah, Fiesta, Nura, PBA Samira
> > X X X X <
<
NORTH CENTRAL - 1 week earlier for irrigation
Aquadulce, Farah, Fiesta, Nura, PBA Samira
> > X X X X <
<
NORTH EAST
Aquadulce, Farah, Fiesta, Nura, PBA Samira
> X X X <
SOUTH WEST
Aquadulce, PBA Kareema, Farah, Fiesta, PBA Rana, PBA Samira
> > X X X X X < <
>earlier than ideal, X optimum sowing time, < later than ideal but acceptable
<
Table 2: Faba bean variety agronomic and disease guide.
Variety
Seed
size
Seed
colour
Flowering
time
Maturity
Lodging
Aquadulce
PBA
Kareema
Farah
large
large
late
late
mid-late
late
medium
early-mid
Fiesta VF
medium
Nura
smallmed
medlarge
medium
light buff
light
brown
light
brown brown
light
brown brown
light buff
PBA Rana
PBA
Samira
light
brown
light
brown
Ascochyta
blight
-Seed
MS
RMR
Chocolate
spot
Rust
MS
MS
Ascochyta
blight
-Foliage
MS
RMR
MS
MS
MS
MRMS
earlymid
MS
RMR
RMR
S
S
early-mid
earlymid
MS
MRMS
MS
S
S
mid
MR
RMR
RMR
MS
MS
mid
earlymid
mid
MR
R
R
MS
MS
mid
mid
MR
R
R
MS
MS
Disease ratings from Pulse Breeding Australia.
R = Resistant RMR = Resistant to moderately resistant MR = Moderately resistant MRMS = Moderately resistant to
moderately susceptible MS = Moderately susceptible MSS = Moderately susceptible to susceptible S = Susceptible SVS =
Susceptible to very susceptible VS = Very susceptible
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
69
Faba bean
Table 3: Faba bean disease guide summary.
Disease
Ascochyta
blight
Chocolate
spot
Organism
Ascochyta
fabae
Symptoms
Large, light tan to grey lesions on
leaves. Small black fruiting bodies
develop within lesions. Centres of
lesions may fall out, leaving holes
in leaves. Sunken lesions on stem
similar in colour to leaf lesions.
Brown-black discolouration of
grain.
Botrytis fabae Passive phase: small chocolate
Botrytis
covered spots scattered over
cinerea
leaves.
Aggressive phase: tissue around
spots turn dark grey and black.
Leaves die and blacken.
Cercospora
leaf spot
Cercospora
zonata
Rust
Uromyces
viciae-fabae
Sclerotinia
stem rot
Sclerotinia
trifoliorum var.
fabae,
Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum
Stem
nematode
Ditylenchus
dipsaci
VIRUS DISEASES
SCSV
Subterranean
clover stunt
virus
Irregular black lesions, with a
distinct margin on the leaf. Easily
confused with Ascochyta or
Chocolate spot but distinguished
by the concentric pattern within
lesions.
Numerous small, orange-brown
rust pustules, surrounded by a
light yellow halo on the leaves of
infected plants.
Occurrence
Hosts
Common in all faba
Faba bean,
bean growing areas in
vetch.
southern Australia. Most
severe in wet seasons.
Spores spread by wind
and rain. Infected seed.
Occurs in all areas
where beans are grown.
Disease usually
becomes established in
late winter and becomes
more severe as day
temperatures increase
during spring. Spores
spread by wind and rain.
Can destroy unprotected
crops in wet seasons.
Occurs in all areas
where beans are grown.
Faba bean,
vetch, lentil,
chickpea.
Faba bean,
vetch.
Foliar
fungicides.
Most prevalent in
northern Australia.
Crops usually affected
late in the season.
Faba bean,
vetch.
Foliar
fungicides.
Crop rotation.
Control
volunteer plants.
Crop rotation.
Lower seeding
rates, wider row
spacing and
good weed
control.
Infection usually begins close to
ground level and slimy wet rot
extends into stem and down into
the roots. Plants easily pulled from
soil and have blackened base
covered with cottony, white fungus
growth. Usually isolated plants
that suddenly wilt and collapse.
Sclerotia on surface and within
stem turn from white to black.
Patches of malformed and stunted
plants with curling leaves and
water-soaked spots. Stem may
die back, turning reddish-brown
colour.
Rapid development of
Wide host
disease in wet, cool
range.
conditions. Foliar form of
disease spread by airborne spores. Fungus
survives in the soil for
many years.
Most severe in wet
seasons. Nematode can
survive many years in
seed, straw or soil.
Faba bean,
pea, oat, wild
oat.
Infected seed
straw or soil.
Seed test.
Crop rotation.
Stunting, tip yellowing, small and
thick leaves.
Prevalent in all bean
growing areas,
symptoms appear early
on faba bean.
Sub clover,
faba bean,
lupin, lentil,
chickpea,
lucerne,
soybean.
The host range
is limited to
Fabaceae.
Host range is
limited to
Fabaceae
Managing
aphids and
weeds.
BLRV
Bean leaf roll
virus
Interveinal yellowing, leaf rolling,
stunting, leathery leaves.
Occurs in all bean
growing areas.
PSbMV
Pea
seedborne
mosaic virus
Can be symptomless or systemic
dark and lightgreen leaf mottle,
leaf margins upright leaf blade
reduced in size. Seeds have
brown rings or line patterns on
surface.
Occurs in all bean
growing areas.
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Control
Foliar
fungicides.
Resistant
varieties.
Crop rotation.
Control
volunteer plants.
Clean seed.
Foliar
fungicides.
Resistant
varieties.
Crop rotation.
Control
volunteer plants.
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
Managing
aphids.
Virus free seed
is
recommended.
Managing
aphids.
Faba bean
Table 4: Long term predicted faba bean yield 2007-2014 expressed as a percentage of the yield of Farah.
The numbers in brackets indicate the number of site years in that area.
North Central
4.34
100 (7)
99 (7)
92 (4)
95 (7)
95 (3)
110 (3)
Farah (t/ha)
Aquadulce
Cairo
Doza
Farah
Fiesta VF
Fiord
Manafest
Nura
PBA Kareema
PBA Rana
PBA Samira
North East
2.76
89 (4)
100 (7)
101 (7)
87 (3)
95 (7)
95 (6)
-
South West
3.97
91 (3)
100 (4)
102 (4)
97 (4)
98 (3)
98 (4)
-
Wimmera
2.41
97 (4)
93 (9)
100 (19)
100 (18)
96 (8)
89 (6)
95 (19)
90 (16)
100 (7)
Table 5: Yield of faba bean expressed as a percentage of the yield of Farah in 2014 NVT and breeding
trials (B).
Sowing Date
Farah (t/ha)
Farah
Fiesta VF
Nura
PBA Rana
PBA Samira
North Central
Kerang (B)
2/5/14
4.43
100
107
114
122
Site Mean (t/ha)
5.30
CV (%)
8
LSD (%)
13
B= Breeding trial, F = Multiple frosts.
North East
Devenish
19/5/14
2.38
100
80
74
87
79
Kaniva (F)
23/4/14
1.54
100
112
108
93
133
Kaniva (B)
23/4/14
1.67
100
94
102
94
2.00
12
21
1.75
6
10
1.72
9
16
Wimmera
Wonwondah
4/5/14
1.53
100
108
109
90
99
1.56
6
10
Wonwondah (B)
4/5/14
1.54
100
105
79
100
1.55
6
13
Table 6: 100 grain weight (g/100 seeds) of faba bean in 2014 trials.
North East
Devenish
59.4
59.2
52.6
67.2
60.2
Farah
Fiesta VF
Nura
PBA Rana
PBA Samira
Wimmera
Kaniva
59.5
59.5
57.2
73.2
61.6
Wonwondah
53.3
51.6
49.2
63.4
57.9
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Jason Brand
Frank Henry
Frank Henry
Josh Fanning
Jeffrey Paull
Mary Raynes
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Horsham
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Horsham
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Hamilton
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Horsham
University of Adelaide
Pulse Australia
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
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