Registration of ‘Black Pearl’ black bean

Abstract

‘Black Pearl’ black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Reg. no. CV-362, PI 705445), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch, was released in 2023 as an upright, full-season cultivar with anthracnose resistance and superior canning quality. Black Pearl was developed using pedigree breeding method to the F₄ generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 5 years of field trials, Black Pearl yielded 3372 kg ha⁻¹, flowered in 47 days, and matured in 98 days on average. Plants averaged 46 cm in height, with lodging resistance score of 1.8 and seed weight of 21.9 g 100 seed⁻¹. Black Pearl combines high yield potential with upright architecture and full-season maturity in a black seed type. Black Pearl has resistance to lodging and high pod placement within the plant making it suitable for direct harvest under narrow row production systems. Black Pearl is resistant to races 7 and 73 of anthracnose, resistant to Bean common mosaic virus, and has shown better resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot than other black bean cultivars. Black Pearl produces seed that meets industry standards for export and packaging and was rated the highest in canned bean color in the black bean market class.