13 Aug 2024 --- Scientists in the US are aiming to reduce farmers’ reliance on pesticides by developing four new long bean varieties that are resistant to the attack of aphids and nematodes that commonly infest the legume. Lowered insecticide use can also allow a “no-spray” labeling for long beans sold at farmers’ markets. The aphid-resistant varieties can be substituted for current local lines to minimize insecticide use, and the nematode-resistant varieties can serve as “climate-smart green beans” used in mechanical harvest systems, according to the researchers.
