In South Tyrol, only a small amount of string beans are cultivated in comparison with bush beans (also known as dwarf beans or French beans). In the rest of Italy, in contrast, bush beans are very popular. Depending upon the given variety, string beans can be used in a number of different ways: As a vegetable side dish, salads (in the form of both intact shells/pods – i.e., „vegetable string beans“ – and also the beans separately), in stews, and in soups.
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Comparative cultivation of String Bean landraces to determine various agronomical parameters
In South Tyrol, only a small amount of string beans are cultivated in comparison with bush beans (also known as dwarf beans or French beans). In the rest of Italy, in contrast, bush beans are very popular. Depending upon the given variety, string...
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Determination of different agronomic parameters
In 2020, the „Vegetable Growing“ working group conducted a comparative cultivation of different varieties of string bean at the Eyrs experimental field to study their suitability for cultivation and their yields. In total, six landraces and six varieties obtained from different seed companies were cultivated; all six varieties from the seed companies, three landraces as whole beans, and three landraces as dry beans were harvested (Table 1). They were all cultivated on PE mulch films with a spacing between plants of 0.4 meters in rows spaced 1.3 meters apart; support frames were used.
The term „vegetable string beans“ refers to those bean varieties which are harvested as shells together with unripe seeds. In contrast, those varieties in which the ripe seeds (suitable for drying) are harvested are referred to as „dry beans.“ Besides the yield performance, various additional plant characteristics, vegetation properties, and various shell/pod and seed characteristics of the string bean were recorded over a period of several months.
Yield performance of the string bean varieties The yield performance of all tested string bean varieties was determined to be satisfactory (Fig. 1). The highest yield per hectare among the vegetable beans was displayed by the landrace...
Yield performance of the string bean varieties
The yield performance of all tested string bean varieties was determined to be satisfactory (Fig. 1). The highest yield per hectare among the vegetable beans was displayed by the landrace „Großmutterbohne Ulten,“ with almost 70,000 kg/ha, followed by the variety „Fascine“ (Rijk Zwaan) with about 64,000 kg/ha. The yield per hectare (weight of seeds) of the three varieties of dry bean amounted to between 7,000 and 9,000 kg/ha. The average fresh weight of the seeds of the dry beans amounted to 0.8 and 1.5 g.
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Conclusions The attained yields for pods and seeds and the convenient cultivation of string beans make them an interesting alternative for our cultivation area. The tested landraces have potential yields rivalling those of the varieties obtained...
Conclusions
The attained yields for pods and seeds and the convenient cultivation of string beans make them an interesting alternative for our cultivation area. The tested landraces have potential yields rivalling those of the varieties obtained from professional breeders. However, when choosing varieties for cultivation, one should take into consideration the intended purpose of the string bean as either vegetable bean or as dry bean.
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