Horse beans are the new soybean for cooler climates in Europe

An international team of researchers was able to read the entire genome of fava beans and benefit immediately by finding a key gene for seed size, a critical trait for crop production. Horse beans, also called faba beans, are an ancient protein crop that is now experiencing a rebirth in the market for vegetable meat substitutes. However, the fava bean's huge genome - four times the size of a human and 30 times that of rice - has previously been impossible to read in its entirety, hindering efforts by scientists and breeders to find genes to improve crops. Using cutting-edge technology, an international team of researchers led by experts from the Universities of Helsinki, Aarhus (Denmark) and Reading (UK) and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland have recently managed to read and assemble the entire faba bean genome and isolate the key gene for seed size. “Improved Faba beans will contribute to a green bioeconomy by promoting sustainable food systems. In order to meet the ...