An edible bean seed designated as <17454> or MYSTIC, a sample of the edible bean deposited under accession no. ______ is disclosed. Methods of using the edible bean seed designated as <17454> or MYSTIC for breeding new varieties of bean seed are also disclosed, as well as seeds of the edible bean seed designated as <17454> or MYSTIC.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding, and more specifically to edible bean line <17454> (MYSTIC).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the United States, there is increasing concern over the consumption of high sugar and high fat foods by the population. An alarming increase in obesity among the citizens in the United States exists since many people in the United States are overweight due to a lack of exercise and poor eating habits.

Beans and peas are listed under both the Vegetables, and the Meats and Beans categories of the Dietary Guidelines Pyramid, thus, emphasizing the healthy nature of legumes in the diet. In addition to the emphasis on lower fat and lower sugar diets, beneficial effects of legumes are becoming apparent. Legumes are packed with fiber and protein, as well as being a good source of numerous vitamins and minerals. Legumes also have a low glycemic index and may help play a role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels; increasing digestive health; and even possibly improving heart health. Yet, legumes are an underutilized food in the United States diet.

With the increased awareness of the problems of obesity, poor eating habits, and the increased awareness of the health benefits of legumes, there exists a need for healthier food products and foodstuffs that provide the beneficial nutritional effects of legumes, as well as a consistent crop supply of such legumes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In each of its various embodiments, the present invention helps fulfill these needs and discloses a pinto bean variety for use in breeding new bean varieties, as well as a foodstuff.

In one embodiment, an edible bean seed designated as MYSTIC, a sample of the edible bean seed that will be deposited under an accession no., is disclosed.

In another embodiment, methods of using the edible bean seed MYSTIC for breeding new varieties of bean seed are disclosed. Seeds of the edible bean seed designated as MYSTIC are also disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, an edible bean line designated as <17454> or (MYSTIC), is disclosed. As used herein, the term MYSTIC will be used to refer to edible bean variety <17454>. Also disclosed are bean plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC. Parts of the bean plant including, without limitation, pollen, ovules, pods and cells, as well as uses of such parts in breeding are further disclosed.

In another embodiment, seed of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC is disclosed. Such seed may be an essentially homogenous population of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC, wherein such seed of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC is essentially free of other seed. Accordingly, the seed of the present invention comprises at least 95% or more of seed of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC.

In yet a further embodiment, tissue culture of regenerable cells of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC are disclosed. Such tissue culture may be capable of expressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC, and be capable of regenerating plants having the same genotype of plants of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC. The tissue culture may be obtained from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and/or stalks.

In an additional embodiment, breeding methods for producing edible bean seeds, plants and/or pods using the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC of the present invention as a parent are disclosed. Such breeding methods may be used to prepare hybrid edible bean seed or plants or inbred edible bean seed or plants, where seed ultimately produced using the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC as at least one of the parents are included within the scope of this invention.

In one embodiment, methods of crossing the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC with itself of a second plant and the seeds and plants produced by such methods are disclosed. Such methods may be used for propagating edible bean line designated as MYSTIC, or can be used to produce hybrid dry bean seeds and the plants grown therefrom.

In a further embodiment, the present invention discloses a process for producing beans comprising obtaining a plant of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC, cultivating the plant to maturity, and collecting and/or harvesting beans from the mature plant. Such beans may be used ultimately as a foodstuff, as seed or as parent in a breeding program.

The present invention further discloses methods and compositions relating to plants, seeds and derivatives of edible bean line designated as MYSTIC. MYSTIC has an erect growth habit, is indeterminate, has guides that are medium to long and has no ability to climb. MYSTIC also has scattered pods that are not concentrated high or low, is adapted to machine harvest, and a good lodging resistance. MYSTIC is a pinto bean variety exhibiting traits including, but not limited to carrying the recessive sd gene, such that MYSTIC is slow darkening as compared to other pinto bean lines. MYSTIC will retain a bright, white color through adverse weather conditions or when being stored. Observations and seed increase show that edible bean line designated as MYSTIC shows uniformity and stability, without variants.

Origin and Breeding History.

The development of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC can be summarized as follows. A cross was made between ProVita pinto variety ‘06190’ as the male parent and the ProVita pinto variety ‘12-7222-1’ as the female parent. The cross was made during the spring in Year 1 in the greenhouse. The edible bean line designated as MYSTIC was derived from this cross.

The breeding history of edible bean line designated as MYSTIC is shown inFIG. 1.

Selections were done in the F4, F6, and F8 generations as follows. In the F4 generation, there was segregation for architecture, maturity, slow darkening trait, seed gloss, seed color, and seed size. Single plant selections were made for upright architecture, high pod set, yield, slow darkening trait, seed gloss, seed color, seed size, and acceptable maturity. In the F6 generation, single plant selections were made for upright architecture, high pod set, yield, seed color, seed size, and acceptable maturity. In the F8 generation, single plant selections were made for upright architecture, high pod set, yield, seed color, seed size, and acceptable maturity. Such selections resulted in the new edible bean line designated as MYSTIC, which was observed to be uniform, stable, and substantially free of any variants within commercially acceptable limits since the F9 generation. It is known that a small percentage of off-types may occur for a characteristic of edible bean line designated as MYSTIC during multiplication.

Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Edible Bean Line Designated as MYSTIC.

Table 2 depicts the physiological and morphological characteristics of edible bean line designated as MYSTIC.

MYSTIC carries the recessive sd gene that confers resistance to darkening due to age or environmental conditions. This slow darkening gene is a particular benefit to pinto bean crops that are grown in environments that darken traditional pinto beans. MYSTIC will retain improved bright white color through adverse weather conditions or when being stored.

A deposit of the edible bean line designated as MYSTIC of the present invention will be made with the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, Fort Collins, Colo. The date of deposit is ______. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposit will be removed, and the deposit is intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 1.801-1.809. The accession number for the deposited seeds of edible bean line designated as MYSTIC is ______. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during such period.

The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, legume products, compositions and uses thereof. However, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various substitutions, modifications or combinations of any of the exemplary embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not limited by the description of the exemplary embodiment, but rather by the appended claims as originally filed.