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Dry Bean Types
Two basic plant types are found in dry edible beans, determinate (bush) or indeterminate (vining or trailing). Cultivars may be classified according to plant types. For example, navy beans may be either of the bush or vining type. In the determinate type, stem elongation ceases when the terminal flower racemes of the main stem or lateral branches have developed. On indeterminate types, flowering and pod filling will continue simultaneously or alternately as long as temperature and moisture permits growth to occur.
In addition to the distinction between determinate and indeterminate plant types, four plant growth habits have been identified. These are: Type I - Determinate bush; Type II - Upright short vine, narrow plant profile, three to four stems: Type III - Indeterminate, prostrate vine; Type IV - Indeterminate with strong climbing tendencies. These growth habits have become useful in identification and classification of new upright bean cultivars.
Plant development for both determinate and indeterminate plant types has been divided into vegetative (v) and reproductive (R) stages as indicated in Table 1. Vegetative states are determined by counting the number of nodes on the main stem beginning at the unifoliate leaf node (V1). Reproductive stages are described with pod and seed characters in addition to nodes. The first pod developing on the plant is described and followed to full size. At the time of first bloom (R), secondary branching begins in the axis of lower nodes which will produce secondary groups of blooms or pods. It is important to follow the main stem, which is readily discernible on both determinate and indeterminate plants. A note is counted when the edges of the leaflets no longer touch.
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