The genome of broad beans has more than 13 billion bases, an amount four times larger than the human genome, was first sequenced and is published in Nature. This is an extraordinary and crucial technical achievement for the efforts to obtain broad beans with excellent nutritional content and sustainable production. A consortium of scientists from Europe and Australia, led by the University of Reading (UK), Aarhus University (Denmark) and university of Helsinki (Finland), worked together on this large-scale sequencing project.

The project of complete decoding of the fava genome ( Vicia faba ) tested its usefulness in the search for genes involved in seed size. The team also studied the color of the hilum (the scar left when a bean falls from the pod) to see if they found the genes that determine this distinctive trait. Professor Donal O'Sullivan led the team at the University of Reading. He said: "Having shown that we can quickly locate the genes that control these visible seed characteristics, work is already underway to locate and identify the precise genetic differences that control the hidden characteristics of the seeds that determine their nutritional value."

"We want to produce beans richer in essential amino acids and less antinutrients, such as physiate, which binds to micronutrients and reduces their absorption. Having the genome sequence available will greatly accelerate this process." At the University of Reading, better prospects for nutritional improvement feed a project to increase the amount of legumes grown in the UK consumed by incorporating fava flour into the ever-popular British white bread.

Source: Agrolink