Eclipse is a black bean variety released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment

Station (NDAES) in July of 2004. This is the first black bean variety to be released by

NDAES. Development of this variety was made possible in part through funds provided by the

Northharvest Bean Growers Association.
Eclipse was selected from the progeny of the cross ‘Tacaragua’/‘Nighthawk’/‘Navigator’.

Tacaragua is a black bean landrace from Mexico which offers some resistance to white mold.

Nighthawk is an early maturing variety from the University of Saskatchewan. Navigator is a navy

bean variety from Rogers Seed Company which has excellent plant architecture and disease

resistance. The intent of this cross was to combine tolerance to white mold with early

maturity and erect plant architecture.
Eclipse has exhibited a yield potential advantage over ‘T-39’ and also canned product appearance scores similar to T-39. The upright plant growth of Eclipse, together with excellent lodging resistance, early maturity and synchronous dry down of plant and pods at harvest, may provide a benefit in harvest efficiency for dry bean producers.
To help ensure genetic purity, Eclipse black bean will be protected under PVPA Title V and must be sold as a class of certified seed.

 

Eclipse Black Bean General Characteristics

■ High yielding

■ Synchronous dry down

■ Early maturing

■ Type II upright growth habit

■ Excellent lodging resistance

■ Dull black seed coat

■ Dark glossy green leaf

■ Purple flowers

■ Canning quality similar to ‘T-39’

 

Agronomic performance and canning scores of Eclipse black bean

and commercial varieties summarized from several tests in North Dakota

 

Eclipse

T-39

Raven

Jaguar

Maturity (days)

99

102

100

98

Seed Size(seeds/lb)

2,248

2,226

2,522

2,467

Growth Habit1

II

IIb

II

II

Height (inches)

23.6

21.3

24.0

24.4

Lodging Score2

2

7

1

2

Canning Score3

3.0

2.7

2.0

4.5

 1I=determinate bush;  II=upright, short vine;  III=prostrate vine;  IV=indeterminate climber
2Scale of 0 to 9 with 0 being the best
3Scale of 1 to 7 based on subjective evaluation of physical integrity of bean, color and clarity or brine,
 and overall visual appeal.

 

Disease reaction of Eclipse black bean and commercial varieties

summarized from several tests in North Dakota

 

Eclipse

T-39

Raven

Jaguar

Rust1

R

R

S

R

BCMV1

R

R

R

R

Anthracnose1
(Race 7)

R

R

R

R

Anthracnose1
(Race 73)

S

S

S

R

 

1R=resistant;  MR=moderately resistant;  MS=moderately susceptible:  S=susceptible

 

 

Yield of Eclipse black bean and commercial black bean varieties in NDSU

yield trials conducted 2001-2003.

 

Eclipse

T-39

Raven

Jaguar

Loc. Years

Yield (cwt/acre)

23.9

22.2

-

-

14

Yield (cwt/acre)

22.7

20.4

-

20.5

9

Yield (cwt/acre)

27.3

24.6

21.2

-

5

 

For additional information

about Eclipse and other dry bean varieties, refer to the most recent North Dakota DryBean Performance Testing circular A-654, or www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/rowcrops/a654.pdf or contact the dry bean breeder or extension agronomist at (701) 231-7971.