A quality trade name for faba beans
New cultivars of faba beans, with genetically reduced contents of tannins and vicine–convicine are now appearing on the market.

The trade name FEVITA ® has been given to this type of quality which results in improved nutritional value compared with conventionnal faba beans when introduced in diets for monogastric animals such as poultry .

The trade name FEVITA has been registered by UNIP in several countries (France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Australia, Egypt and Canada).
The first FEVITA cultivar called DISCO was registered in France in 2003.

Genetic variability available and markers to help in breeding Fevita types
Fevita seed quality is based on the presence of two genes : gene zt (zt1 or zt2) reducing the tannin content and gene zv reducing simultaneously the vicine and convicine contents (1,2).

Tannins: White flower colour is an easy and early marker for the absence of tannins in the seed coat because both traits are the pleiotropic effects of these recessive genes. The fact that two genes in distinct loci are available to breeders, implies careful isolation of varieties during the multiplication process of this allogamous species.

Vicine–convicine: They are thermostable seed constituents, mostly located in cotyledons, which cannot be easily removed by technological processes. In conventional cultivars, the vicine + convicine contents range from 0.6 to 1.2% of seed DM. Gene zv reduces this content by 10–20 fold (2). The hilum colour gene which maps 10 centimorgan away from the vc gene can help in breeding (9). Genetic maps are under development in the EUFABA FP5 project which will provide molecular markers for marker assisted selection of this trait (10).

Improved nutritional value of FEVITA types!
It has been demonstrated in several studies that tannins, vicine and convicine reduce AMEn values in adult cockerels (5) and in broiler chickens (7). Tannins have a negative impact on nitrogen digestibility in poultry (5,7). Vicine–convicine reduces laying performance by decreasing egg weight. Fevita types were shown to reduce these adverse effects.

Tannins may have negative effect on nitrogen digestibility and DE values in pigs (6) but this negative impact is not shown systematically on amino acid ileal digestibility and DE values (8). Tannin-free faba beans can be more easily used in pig and piglet diets, with a higher level of incorporation. Therefore, Fevita types are adapted to pig feeding

Vicine and convicine cause favism (a haemolytic crisis) in some humans (3). The benefit of Fevita types in human nutrition has still to be evaluated.

A clear added value
The graph below illustrates the ranking of FEVITA types compared with conventional faba beans, white faba beans and peas, for simulated finishing feed formula for chicken broilers reared up to 56 days (in a given price context in France). It shows that in this case the white faba beans are equivalent to peas and that FEVITA faba beans provide feed manufacturers with an innovative new material to incorporate into rations.

Graph legend: FC: conventional faba beans; FB: white faba beans; F00: Fevita faba beans; P: peas

Conclusion
The quality improvement of FEVITA types will provide added value to the faba bean crop in different markets with a well organised integrated chain to separate the different types of faba beans produced worldwide.

The economic value of FEVITA types compared with classic faba bean varieties can be 5% higher, especially in poultry formulas.
This value is also higher than for peas, due to FEVITA composition and nutritional values. It has also been demonstrated that faba beans are a good substitute for soyabeans in some broiler formulas (7).

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Authors:
G. Duc(a), K. Crépon (b), P. Marget (a), F. Muel (b)
(a) INRA - UR LEG, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon cedex (France) gerard.duc@epoisses.inra.fr
(b) UNIP, 12 avenue George V, Paris (France) f.muel@prolea.com or k.crepon@prolea.com

References:
(1) Picard J. 1976. Annales de l’amélioration des plantes, 26,101-106
(2) Duc, G., Sixdenier, G., Lila, M. & Furstoss, V., 1989. In : Recent advances of research in antinutritional Factors in legumes seeds, J. Huisman, A.S.M., J.F.B. Van der Poel, I.E. Liener (Eds). Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands, pp.305-313
(3) Arese, P. & De Flora, A., 1990. Seminars in Hematology 27, 1-40
(4) Duc G.,Marget P., Esnault R., Le Guen J., Bastianelli D.,1999. Journal of Agricultural Science, 133, 185-196.
(5) Grosjean, F., Bourdillon, A., Rudeaux, F., Bastianelli, C., Duc, G., & Lacassagne, L., 2000. Sciences et Techniques Avicoles 32, 17-23
(6) Grosjean F et al., 2001. JRP, 33, 205-210.
(7) Métayer J.P., Barrier-Guillot B., Skiba F., Crépon K., Bouvarel I., Marget P., Duc G., Lessire M., 2003, 5 ièmes Journées de la Recherche Avicole, Tours, mars 2003, 133-135.
(8) Vilarino M et al, 2004. JRP, 36, 211-216.
(9) Duc G., Marget P., Page D;, Domoney C. 2004, EAAP publication, 110, Toledo Spain, 8-10 march 2004 Wageningen Academic pbs, 281-285
(10) Gutierrez N., Duc G., Marget P., Avila C.M., Suso M.J., Cubero J.I., Moreno M.T., Torres A.M. 2004, EAAP publication, 110, Toledo Spain, 8-10 march 2004 Wageningen Academic pbs, 287-290