Developing tools for faba bean breeding

Progress was made in developing genotypic and phenotypic tools to allow for the quick testing for presence or absence of vicine, the major anti-nutritional compound found in faba bean seeds. Breeding populations of faba bean were developed to increase the frequency of low vicine breeding lines in locally adapted breeding populations. Faba bean genotypes that can potentially produce seeds with reduced levels of phytate were developed. Germplasm resources of faba beans for use in future breeding activities were developed. This research project helped to set the stage for future expansion of faba bean production and processing in Saskatchewan.