Registration of 'Alpena' Navy Bean

'Alpena' navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Reg. No. CV-306, PI 673046), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch, was released in 2014 as an upright, midseason cultivar with uniform dry down and excellent canning quality. Alpena was developed using pedigree breeding method to the F-3 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 3 yr of field trials, Alpena yielded 2886 kg ha(-1), flowered in 45 d, and matured in 99 d on average. Plants averaged 55 cm in height, with lodging resistance score of 1.6 and seed weight of 19.2 g 100 seed (1). Alpena combines high yield potential with erect architecture, midseason maturity, and excellent dry down at harvest. Earlier maturity would allow for production in northern region of Michigan where the production season is shorter. Alpena has resistance to lodging and high pod placement within plant structure, making it suitable for direct harvest under narrow-row production systems. The upright architecture also contributes to avoidance of white mold [caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary], a disease that is intensified by narrow row production systems. Alpena is susceptible to rust race 22:2 [caused by Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.:Pers.) Unger] and is sensitive to strain NL 3 of Bean common mosaic necrosis virus. Alpena produces seed that meets industry standards for packaging and possesses excellent canning quality in the navy bean seed class.