KIS Ahac – Slovenian Bean Variety
Beans and other legumes play an important role in human nutrition and sustainable agriculture. They are a valuable source of plant proteins, dietary fibre and minerals. As nitrogen-fixing crops, legumes also improve soil fertility and reduce the need for mineral fertilisers. The development of new legume varieties adapted to local growing conditions and climate change represents an important contribution to increased self-sufficiency and production stability.
Description of the variety
KIS Ahac is a new Slovenian dwarf bean variety for production of the white cherry bean type, developed at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia within the bean breeding programme. The variety was obtained through targeted manual crossings combined with nine years of phenotypic selection supported by DNA marker-assisted selection. It originates entirely from Slovenian genetic resources.
Plants develop a vigorous growth habit with dark green leaves and delicate violet flowers. Pods are medium-long and wide, dark green with violet spots. Seeds are large, elliptical in shape, with a primary beige and secondary violet seed coat colour. The variety is medium-early and productive, providing a stable and uniform yield even under less favourable weather conditions. Due to earlier flowering, it successfully avoids negative effects of high summer temperatures and drought. The grain is suitable for salads as well as traditional dishes such as stews.
Sowing in open field conditions is recommended in mid-May (10 cm within rows and 35 cm between rows), while dry grain can be harvested at the end of August.
Key advantages
- Grain bean variety of the white cherry bean type
- Reliable and uniform yield even under stress conditions
- Earlier flowering – lower sensitivity to heat and drought
- Large, attractively coloured grain with good culinary quality
- Vigorous plant habit and stable growth
- Slovenian variety adapted to local growing conditions
- Contribution to the preservation of Slovenian genetic heritage
