Biological features and main aspects of the growing technology of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from seeds

Abstract

The objective of this review is to analyse and synthesise the extant research on the biological characteristics of common beans and aspects of seed cultivation technology in the conditions of Ukraine. The authors' research yielded the following findings: in our country, three types of beans from the Fabaceae family are cultivated: common (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lima (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and multiflorous (Phaseolus multiflorus L.). The most prevalent are the common beans, which are of American origin. This is a typical heat-resistant crop, the optimal temperature for plant growth and development is 25–30 °C. It was established that the temperature factor, in conjunction with the presence of moisture in the soil, exerts a considerable influence on productivity, particularly during crucial phases such as flowering and seed formation. The Register of Plant Varieties currently lists 20 varieties of common bean and 27 varieties of grain bean. It is essential to select varieties that are well-suited to the prevailing growing conditions, demonstrate resilience to prevalent diseases and pests, and exhibit high productivity potential. The most effective predecessors in the field of crop rotation for beans are winter cereals and tilled crops. In the context of vegetable crop rotation, pumpkin, nightshade, onion, root crops and early potatoes represent the optimal predecessors. The main tillage is conventional, followed by early spring harrowing and two or three times cultivation. Beans are sown in a wide-row method (45 cm) in the Forest-Steppe on May 5–15, in Polissya on May 5–20, in the Steppe zone on April 20 – May 15. The seeding rate is contingent upon the dimensions of the seeds and is 400–500 thousand analogous seeds per hectare. Prior to sowing, the seeds are inoculated with specific strains of microorganisms. (nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the Rhizobium phaseoli). The care of bean seed plants entails the loosening of rows (1–3 times) and the monitoring of harmful organisms in crops. Following the drying of the bean seeds to a moisture content of between 70 and 80 %, the seeds are collected using the transshipment method. They are then subjected to a series of processing steps, including cleaning and sorting, before being stored in a seed material with a purity of 99.0 % and a laboratory germination rate of 90.0 %.