Review of recent research on navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the United Kingdom

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Navy beans are the raw material for ‘baked beans’. Since the 1960's a number of workers have attempted to introduce the crop to the United Kingdom. The paper reviews the results of research to date.In favoured areas of the United Kingdom yields of 300 g seed/m2may be expected in small‐plot trials. The optimum plant spacing is between 20 and 30 plants/m2and dressings of about 150 kg/ha of N fertiliser are required for maximal yield. The nitrogen fertiliser may be dispensed with, at the cost of a small reduction in yield, if the seed is inoculated with an elite strain ofRhizobium phaseoli.In the United Kingdom the potential diseases of the crop include halo‐blight (Pseudomonas syringaepV.phaseolicola), bean common mosaic virus, and anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum).Genetic sources of resistance have been identified, and they are incorporated in some of the UK‐bred material.It seems likely that the varieties with improved adaptation and disease resistance that are now available from the UK work will be useful to farmers in continental Europe. For the UK itself, some improvements in cold‐tolerance and yield stability may still be required.The paper concludes with a discussion of the lessons to be learned from the project.