Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a vital component of sustainable agriculture and food security—A review

Abstract

The importance of legumes in sustainable cropping systems has been studied extensively. Among legumes, common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a rich world resource of biodiversity with two centers of domestication (Andes and Central America) and over 10 major market classes cultivated globally. Common beans are recognized as a nutrient-dense, healthy food source due to their high protein, dietary fiber, and minerals content and also being a rich source of resistant and slowly digestible starch, which elicits a lower glycemic response. Some bioactive compounds present in beans are reported to mitigate cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hyper-cholesterolemia, and cancer. Dry bean production systems provide unique advantages that support sustainability, including a low carbon footprint and short growth cycle, which facilitates crop diversification and cover crop integration. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), a unique characteristic of legumes, promotes environmentally friendly production through modest fertilizer use. Advances to improve the upright plant architecture of beans during the last two decades have enhanced options for direct harvest thereby reducing the number of equipment passes required. Overall, the sustainability implications of diversifying crop rotation using beans result in reduced requirements for environmentally unfriendly inputs and buffering of crop productivity under variable weather conditions. This review article covers common beans' role in agricultural sustainability (biodiversity, SNF, rotational diversity, harvest management) and as a sustainable source of nutrition and food security. Further discussion includes measures to enhance dry beans sustainability through breeding and crop management practices by addressing biotic and abiotic stresses (diseases, drought, high temperature, waterlogging, conservation tillage).

Meta-QTL Analysis for Yield Components in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L. 2n = 2x = 22) is one of the most consumed grain legumes in the world, especially in Latin America and Africa, where it is a central part of the protein intake of people [ 1 , 2 ]. It is the most important species among the genus Phaseolus cultivated for direct human nutrition [ 3 ], because its grains are a good source of protein, folic acid, dietary fiber, and carbohydrates and is low in fat [ 4 , 5 ]. It is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc and is low in sodium [ 1 , 6 ].…”

“…On the other hand, drought is a main constraint for common bean production, and it has been recognized as the main abiotic stressor for its cultivation in rainfed production systems worldwide [ 11 ]. Thus, many efforts have been devoted to obtain cultivars tolerant to drought or that are able to escape terminal drought [ 5 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Novel candidate loci for morpho-agronomic and seed quality traits detected by targeted genotyping-by-sequencing in common bean

“…Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) is one of the most important grain legumes, consumed as dietary staple worldwide, especially in Latin America and Africa ( Uebersax et al., 2022 ). Common bean has its origin in Latin America.…”

Evaluation of Some Nanoparticles Against Sclerotium rolfsii the Cause of Root and Crown Rots in Common Beans

“…Beans are regarded as a premium crop for economic production worldwide. Additionally, the common bean has an economic influence worldwide and plays a key role in sustainable improvements to the environment through nitrogen fixation that has a positive impact on the soil (Rondon et al, 2007 andUebersax et al, 2022). Plant pathogens cause severe risks to agricultural production, resulting in huge economic losses of 20-40% each year (Worrall et al, 2018).…”