Distribution, Importance and Diseases of Soybean and Common Bean: A Review

The crops belonging to the family Leguminosae are the second to cereal crops of agricultural significance due to their high nutritional value. Soybean is native to East Asia and was originated in China while common bean is native to Central and Southern America originated in Peru. Both soybean and common bean are erect, bushy annual herbaceous plants growing up to 150 and 40 centimeters in height, respectively. They have enormous food and medicinal values. Soybean and common bean are important leguminous crops which are excellent source of high-quality proteins, minerals, vitamins, polyunsaturated fats, and other nutrients for both human and other animal feeds. Soybean is beneficial for weight loss, diabetics as dietary supplements, bone loss in women and minimizing cancer risks while common bean is useful for preventing constipation, lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart diseases. Pests, pathogens and weeds cause harmful effect resulting in low production of both the legume crops. The present review focuses on the overview, different importance and diseases of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). In addition, attention has been paid on various aspects of these two legumes namely taxonomy, morphological features, origin and distribution along with their pests and diseases.