Review of pests of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) reported in the Altai Region

Abstract

Common bean is one of the most popular legumes. This is a source of complete plant protein. The seeds contain up to 30% of protein rich in essential amino acids making this crop strategically important for the country’s food security. The development of commercial common bean growing depends largely on the variety, agricultural technology, and resistance of the varieties used in production to pests in the region. Under the conditions of the Altai Region where crop production actively develops and the area under legumes grows annually, pest control, including that in common bean crops, is particularly topical. The research goal was to identify the species of common bean pests and determine the degree of harmfulness of each species in two ecologically distinct climatic zones of the Altai Region. The field studies were conducted in common bean crops in two ecologically distinct zones of the Altai Region: Biya-Chumysh zone, and Priobskaya zone, from 2022 through 2025. The research targets were nine Russian determinate varieties: Fizkulturnitsa, Omskaya Yubileynaya, Lukerya, Olivkovaya, Omichka, Businka, Zebra, Nerussa, Sirenevaya and three local forms: MF-1, MF-2, and MF-3. The control variety was Sirenevaya developed in the Altai Region. During the study of common bean crops in the Biya-Chumysh and Priobskaya zones of the Altai Region from 2022 through 2025, the following pests were detected: bean weevil (2022-2025), corn earworm (2023), black bean aphid (2024), and field rodents (2025). The greatest degree of harmfulness during grain storage was caused by the bean weevil (over 25%), and during the growing season - by corn earworm (up to 25%). The study expands the understanding of common bean pests in the Altai Region; this will contribute to increased effectiveness of agricultural pest control measures, further increasing yields, and improving product quality.