Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Wild variety of common bean (Phaseolus aborigineus)	String bean	Bush bean

Distribution, Yield, Use:

• Distribution:
  The common bean is the most important economic variety of the genus Phaseolus, and is grown in all parts of the world. It requires much warmth and sun. Cool weather and wind hamper the growth. Medium heavy or light soils are preferred.
• Yield :
  Green pods
  180-250 dt/ha string beans
  100-200 dt/ha bush beans
  Ripe beans
  10-15 dt/ha
• Use:
  Foodstuff
  - green unripe pods cooked, or conserved as vegetable
  - ripe seeds cooked for soups, broth
  5-15% dry mass, 1-3% protein,
  2-6% carbohydrate in green pods
  Ripe seeds contain
  90% dry mass, 2% fat
  55-60% carbohydrate, 20-25% protein.

Region of origin: Region of cultivation:

• Cultivation and Breeding:
  The common bean was already a cultivated plant in western South America around 800 BC. It probably arose from the Wild bean (Phaseolus aborigineus) found there. The Wild bean is a strong-growing creeper with small black seeds. The string bean was developed by the Indians through the selection of plants with less strong growth and larger seeds. The low, shrub-like bush bean was bred from the string bean in modern times.
• Breeding aims:
  Important breeding aims are the improvement in protein content and composition, and the introduction of resistance characteristics into the high-yielding cultivated varieties. It is hoped that beans which are free of the poison phasin can be grown, which could then be eaten raw.

Text by Dr. Wolfgang Schuchert
Adapted to HTML by R.Saedler