Virus Diseases of Snap and Dry Beans

NYS IPM Type: Vegetables IPM Fact SheetVirus diseases can commonly occur on both snap and dry bean crops in New York State and can result in reduced yields and inferior quality of the product. Because dry beans have a longer vegetative cycle, viruses, in general, are more destructive for this crop. Most bean viruses are spread by aphids in a nonpersistent manner, with insecticides providing little protection against virus spread during the season. In addition to being aphid transmitted, some bean viruses are seedborne in bean or in other hosts and can be overwintered in cultivated plants and weeds. Nematodes can transmit two viruses, which cause only minor plant injury