Description
The Red Speckled beans commonly known as the Sugar bean is a legume. It is grown for it’s seed, which is eaten as a vegetable. It has a high soluble fibre content. Soluble fibre absorbs water in the stomach forming a gel that slows down the absorption of the bean’s carbohydrates.
AS 148 is one of the first-generation red speckled beans to be released with BCMV and rust resistance combined with an indeterminate short-vine growth habit. Despite being one of the oldest cultivars on the market, it still has traction in certain markets. Disease resistance, growth habit and seed qualities in modern cultivars have all improved dramatically since the release of AS 148, but its wide adaptation is still regarded as the industry gold standard.
Agronomic characteristics
Growth Habit Indeterminate type IIA (indeterminate with a short vine)
Days to Maturity 110-120
Days to flower 45-55
Disease resistances
Rust Moderately resistant (7/9 score)
Angular leaf spot Moderately susceptible (6/9 score)
Anthracnose Susceptible (5/9 score)
BCMV I gene resistance
Seed characteristics
Seeds/kg 2719 seeds/kg (small, considered towards the bottom of the size range for red speckled beans
Description Typical red speckled bean for colour and shape.
Yield adaptation Yields better than AS 9292 in the West and equivalent to AS 9216 in FS. Tends to perform better in low disease pressure environments, or where a strong rangy growth habit is required. Dries down nicely and is easy to harvest.
