This presentation is done by Export Agriculture students of Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka as a requirement for the subject which is “Fruit & Vegetable production”. Note that the information included here is relevant to Sri Lankan condition.

1. Common Bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
• A. M. S. B. Athapaththu
UWU/EAG/11/0016
• K. G. A. P. Dulanjalee
UWU/EAG/11/0019

2. Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Order : Fabales
Family : Fabaceae
Genus : Phaseolus
Species : P. vulgaris

3. Introduction
• An annual, herbaceous plant
• Other names- Green Bean, String Bean,
Field Bean
• Origin - in Central Mexico
• Production -about 21 million metric tons
annually
• Producing countries -about 150 countries
Latin America , Brazil, Mexico , Africa
(Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,
Tanzania, and Congo)

4. • In Sri Lanka beans can be grown in all agro-
ecological regions except the up-country wet
zone
• Well-drained soils are suitable
• pH - 6 to 6.5
• Temperature (Optimum) - 20 to 26 °C
(The maximum temperature during flowering
should not exceed 30 °C)
• Annual rain fall - 600 to 650 mm
• Light – short day plant
Ecological Requirements

5. • Leaves - broad at the base, can be simple or
compound
• Roots -single main taproot & fibrous roots
• Fruit -Pod (economically important part)
• Great diversity of phenotypes
-colour, pod size ,seed size

6. Importance
• Pod – as a vegetable , rich source of
protein(18-30%), vitamins, minerals, and fiber
• Leaves - occasionally used as a vegetable,
straw can be used for fodder
• Medicinal use - diseases concerning heart,
kidney and bladder dysfunctions
• Restore soil fertility

7. Varieties of Common Bean
1. Bush bean
a) Wade
Pods - dark green, round, fleshy, stringless and
smooth surfaced, medium long
b) Top Crop
Pods-light green, flattened to round, stringless,
medium long

8. 2. Pole bean
a) Kentucky Wonder Green
Pods - green, oval cordate, medium size, stringy, slightly
S-shaped
b) Kentucky Wonder Wax
Pods - light yellow, oval cordate, short to medium
length, stringy, curved
c) Other promising varieties
-Pees Butter
- Katugastota
-Lanka Nill

9. 1. Pythium rot
2. Collar rot
3. Anthracnose
4. Rust
5. Bacterial blight
6. Bean mosaic virus

10. Pythium rot (Pythium spp.)
• Symptoms
Scorching of leaves
Browning of basal stem and roots
• Control
-Avoid continuous cultivation in the same field
-Facilitate good drainage
-Avoid excessive use of nitrogen
-Use recommended fungicides for seed and soil
treatment

11. Collar rot (Sclerotium rolfsii)
• Symptoms
-Yellowing of leaves
-Rotting at base of stem
-Presence of a white mycelia mat at collar
region
• Control
Avoid accumulation of plant debris on the soil

12. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum)
• Symptoms
-Sunken spots on pods and leaves
-Discoloration of buds and die back of
plant
• Control
- Use a recommended fungicide

13. Rust (Uromyces sp.)
• Symptoms
-light reddish-brown colored small
raised blister like spots appear on leaves and
pods
• Control
-Use a recommended fungicide

14. Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas
phaseoli)
• Symptoms
-Leaves develop water-soaked spots, turn
brown, and fall
-Water-soaked spots appear on pods
• Control
-Follow a crop, rotation
-Use resistant varieties
-Remove all diseased plants at the earliest
symptoms

15. Bean mosaic virus
• Symptoms
-Yellow and dark green mottling on leaves
-Plant stunting
• Control
-Use resistant varieties
-Use virus-free seed

16. Main Pests
• Leafminer fly –photosynthetic reduction ,
yield loss
• Root borer –in two leaves stage, spirally
boring into the stem core of plants

17. • Bean Aphids - leaves then turn yellow and
become crumpled
• Thrips – feed on plant sap
• Bean pod borer - larva chews on flower parts,
thus affects pollination or make flowers drop

18. • Land Preparation
The soil should be ploughed to a depth of 30-
40cm and worked to very fine tilth

19. • Seed Establishment
Seed rate
Bush bean - 75 kg/ha
Pole bean - 50 kg/ha
Time of planting
After heavy rains is recommended for both
Maha and Yala seasons
Planting and spacing
a) Dibble seed on raised beds
b) Spacing
Bush bean - 50 x 10 cm
Pole bean - 60 x 45 cm

20. • Fertilizer application
Basal- apply the following formulation and
rates:
-Urea-190 kg/ha
-TSP-285 kg/ha
-Murate of potash-150 kg/ha
Top dressing-apply 125 kg/ha of urea 4 week
after planting

21. • Irrigation
Daily- until germination is complete
Once every 2-3 days - until the crop is
established
Maintenance of adequate moisture during
flowering and pod-filling stage is very important

22. • Weeding
1. Bush beans
a. Earth-up 1 week after planting
b. Weed 3 weeks after planting to, coincide
with fertilizer application
2. Pole beans
a. Weed 2 and 6 weeks after planting
b. When an-inverted trellis is used, two
additional weedings are needed to control
weeds between rows

23. • Other
- Stake pole beans when, support is required
- Add mulch to the planting beds

24. • Harvesting
Fresh beans-picked at an immature stage, when
the seeds inside have not yet fully developed
-firm, sizable pods and snap or cut off the
plant. Do not tear the plant
Dry beans- Pods can also be left on the plant to
dry completely

25. • Storage
-Store beans in a moisture-proof, airtight
container in the refrigerator
-Beans can be kept fresh for about 4 days, or
blanched and frozen immediately after
harvesting
-Beans can also be canned or pickled

26. Constrains
• Susceptibility to diseases
• Narrow range of genetic diversity
• Inefficient plant types and law yielding
varieties
• Lack of suitable varieties for different agro
ecological zones
• Competition from weeds
• Law level of crop management by farmers

27. Thank you..