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Cultivar · Common bean market class

Pinto bean

Pinto is a common bean market class defined by mottled beige-and-brown seed of the Mesoamerican gene pool. It is a seed-type class encompassing many individually named cultivars, not one registered variety.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Record

Cultivar / variety
Variety of
Common Bean
Botanical taxon
Phaseolus vulgaris
Type
Market class / landrace group
Breeding method
Self-pollinated market class (comprising many cultivars)
Origin
Mesoamerican (Middle American) gene pool
Registry status
Historical
Adaptation
Warm-season, frost-sensitive common bean; flowering and pod set are vulnerable to heat stress. Well-drained loams; sensitive to waterlogging and compaction.
Intended use
Dry culinary bean (for example, whole, mashed, and canned)

Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.

Pinto is a market class of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) defined by its seed type: a medium-sized, mottled ("painted") seed in shades of beige and brown. It is one of the most widely grown dry-bean classes in the Americas and is used as a dry culinary bean.

Crucially, "pinto" names a seed-type class, not a single cultivar. Many distinct, individually named pinto cultivars are bred and grown within the class, sharing its seed appearance while differing in growth habit, maturity, and other traits. Pinto beans are generally classified within the Mesoamerican (Middle American) gene pool of common bean.

A market class, not a single cultivar

Pinto is a market class — a seed-type category — within the single species Phaseolus vulgaris. Beans are sold and bred by such classes, which group cultivars that share seed size, shape, and color. The pinto class contains many individually named cultivars that differ in agronomy even though their seeds look similar.

Seed type and gene pool

The pinto class is recognized by its mottled beige-and-brown seed of medium size. Common bean is divided into two major gene pools — Mesoamerican and Andean — reflecting independent domestications; pinto is generally placed within the Mesoamerican (Middle American) gene pool.

  • Seed: medium-sized, mottled beige and brown
  • Species: Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean)
  • Gene pool: Mesoamerican (Middle American)
  • Use: dry culinary bean

Cultivation context

As common beans, pinto cultivars are warm-season and frost-sensitive, with flowering and pod set vulnerable to heat stress, and perform best on well-drained loams. Specific planting timing, growth habit, and management vary by cultivar and region and are not reduced to universal values here.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Adapted to soil

Related topics

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: A globally grown dry-bean class, especially in the Americas. Agronomy and performance depend on the specific cultivar and local conditions.

Climate context: Warm-season, frost-sensitive common bean class; heat at flowering reduces pod set.

  • Pinto is a market class (seed type), not a single registered cultivar; it encompasses many cultivars that differ agronomically.
  • Gene-pool classification (Mesoamerican) is a general placement; individual materials can vary.
  • No release year, breeder, resistance, or yield is asserted for the class; such claims belong to individual cultivar records.
  • Culinary preparation and food-safety handling are outside the scope of this agronomy-focused record.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) germplasm and market-class documentation

    Type:
    Official registry
    Jurisdiction:
    United States / Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]CGIAR — Global agricultural research partnership (opens in a new tab)

    CGIAR

    High

    Cited for: Common bean gene-pool classification (Mesoamerican and Andean) and germplasm research

    Type:
    Research institute
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]CABI Digital Library — Crop Protection Compendium (opens in a new tab)

    CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International)

    High

    Cited for: Common bean crop and seed-type context

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

Related topics

Soil Health