KIS Nazarij – A New Slovenian Common Bean Variety
Background
The KIS Nazarij common bean is a high-quality Slovenian variety bred by the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia. Developed through targeted crossing and a 9-year process of phenotypic selection including marker- assisted selection, it represents a modern response to the needs of both organic and conventional agriculture.
Legumes like beans play an essential role in human nutrition. They are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals, while also supporting soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. As climate change increases the frequency of droughts and extreme heat, resilient varieties such as the KIS Nazarij common bean are crucial for maintaining stable yields.
Description of the Innovation
KIS Nazarij is a mid-early, multi-purpose bean variety suitable for both green pod and dry seed production. It produces attractive flat green pods and brown elliptical seeds. The plant has low growth, which makes harvesting easier, especially in small gardens.
This variety shows excellent tolerance to heat and drought, making it a reliable choice even in less favorable weather conditions. Its nutritional profile is favorable— it contains more magnesium and sodium compared to similar varieties.
Benefits
- Multipurpose use – suitable as green pods, dry seeds, or combined production
- Low growth – easy to harvest and ideal for smaller gardens
- Reliable and uniform yields – even under unfavorable weather conditions (stress)
- Tolerant to drought and high temperatures – excellent choice for climate change adaptation
- Above-average nutritional value – contains more magnesium and sodium than comparable varieties
- Mid-early variety – young pods ready for harvest by mid-July
- Attractive appearance and taste – green flat pods and brown elliptical seeds
- Slovenian breeding – locally adapted and developed at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia
