A Literature review ofPhaseolus angularis— the adsuki bean

Abstract

Phaseolus angularis (Willd.) W. F. Wight is a major crop in China and Japan, but its production is small elsewhere. Although it is the sixth largest crop in Japan, and a frequent subject in Japanese publications, its appearance in Western botanical literature does not reflect this importance. The last literature review in a Western language was published in 1914 (40). In view of the economic importance of this bean, it seems worthwhile to provide an up-todate review, accessible to the Western reader.