RUNNER BEAN BREEDING 



The runner bean, Phaseolus multi- 

 flora, is grown to a considerable ex- 

 tent in northern New Hampshire, 

 where it is known as "lima bean" or 

 "frost proof." There are red-and- 

 white-blossomed varieties and pur- 

 ple-mottled and white-seeded varie- 

 ties. Colored seed and red flowers 

 are associated as are white seed and 

 white flowers. There are both climb- 

 ing and bush types. Selections for 

 the white bush type have been made. 

 It has become evident that cross- 

 pollination in the field is very fre- 

 quent in this species, so much so that 

 it has interfered considerably with 

 the breeding program. 



Plants raised in the greenhouse in 

 the winter when the days are short 

 and the temperature is held fairly 

 high have given practically no seed. 



Crosses have been made between 

 the white selections of this species 

 and common beans, neither of which 

 has red blossoms. The Fj resulting 

 has a flower nearly as bright red as 

 the scarlet type of the runner bean. 

 It is exactly the same color as is 

 secured when the red-flowered run- 

 ners are used in the cross. While 

 the first generation plants are most- 

 ly infertile, some seed has been se- 

 cured. Selections through the F4 

 generation from this interspecific 

 cross, which carry some of the 

 characteristics of both parents and 

 are highly fertile, have been made. 

 No named varieties have resulted as 

 yet. Further work is being done. 

 The objectives are better flavored 

 snap beans in which the cotyledons 

 are not pushed above ground when 

 the seed germinates. This is a 

 characteristic of multiflora. 



CABBAGE 



and 



CHINESE CABBAGE 



Crosses have been made between 

 the various members of the cabbage 

 family including cabbage, kohlrabi, 

 kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, 

 and broccoli. No varieties have re- 

 sulted from such hybridization, but 

 their characteristics have been re- 

 corded. All are fertile, indicating 

 their close botanical relationship. 

 Red cabbage has also been success- 

 fully crossed with Wong Bok Chinese 

 cabbage. The resulting lone plant 

 with Wong Bok as the female parent 

 is large, leafy, and red-veined. The 

 plant is nearly (perhaps completely) 

 sterile. 



CARROTS 



Hutchinson is the carrot variety 

 mostly commonly grown for market 

 purposes in New England. Unfortu- 

 nately, the Hutchinson variety, while 

 productive and attractive, is com- 

 paratively low in quality. Morse's 

 Bunching was found to have more 

 desirable characteristics than any 

 other variety tested at the New 

 Hampshire Agricultural Experiment 

 Station. Crosses have been made be- 

 tween Hutchinson and Morse's 

 Bunching with the idea of combin- 

 ing the good features of both. The 

 first generation of this cross was 

 raised in the greenhouse; seed was 

 saved and the second generation was 

 raised in the field in 1948. Desir- 

 able selections have been made for 

 continued work. 



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