Long bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. ssp. sesquipedalis), also known as asparagus bean and Asian yardlong bean, is the vegetable type of cowpea, a climate-resilient and nutritious food legume grown by Southeast Asian farmers in the Central Valley of California and marketed to Asian immigrant communities across the United States.

The project entitled "Varietal Improvement of Fresh-Market Long Bean to Overcome Biotic Stresses and Expand Production" is led by UC Riverside in collaboration with UCCE Fresno. Funding for this effort is provided by CDFA - Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (ca.gov).

This project addresses the aphid and root-knot nematode problems. All local varieties in small farms are susceptible to these pests. Aphids can move from crop to crop on diversified farms, requiring frequent pesticide sprays. Root-knot nematodes are prevalent in California soils and difficult to control because they have a wide host range, causing reliance on soil fumigants. Thus, development and use of resistant varieties are vital and timely in the face of increasing restrictions on the use of currently registered pesticides.