Snap Bean

Abstract

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.; 2n = 2x = 22) is a member of the family Fabaceae, tribe Phaseoleae, subfamily Papilionoideae. Cultivated forms are grown on all continents except Antarctica (Gepts, 1998). Commonly grown species of Phaseolus are: P. acutifolius A. Gray (tepary bean), P. coccineus L. (scarlet or runner bean), P. lunatus L. (Burma, butter or Lima bean), and P. vulgaris L. (baked, canellini, common, dwarf, flageolet, frijoles, French, kidney, navy, pinto, snap, string, wax, haricot or Nunas bean) (Broughton et al., 2003). Beans main products are dry beans (seeds harvested at complete maturity), shell beans (seeds harvested at physiological maturity, i.e. before the desiccation associated with complete maturity sets in), and green or snap beans (pods harvested before the seed development phase) (Gepts, 1998).