Responses of Various Market Classes of Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) to Linuron

Abstract

Tolerance of eight market classes of dry beans (black, brown, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto, white, and yellow eye beans) to the PRE application of linuron at the rate of 2.25 and 4.50 kg ai/ha was studied at two locations in Ontario, Canada, in 2003 and 2004. The eight market classes differed in their response to linuron. Linuron PRE caused as much as 43, 20, 7, 17, 54, 36, 56, and 12% visual injury in black, brown, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto, white, and yellow eye beans, respectively. Linuron PRE at 2.25 kg/ha reduced plant height 38% in otebo beans and 31% in white beans. Linuron PRE at 4.50 kg/ha reduced plant height 24 to 56% in black, brown, otebo, pinto, and white beans. Shoot dry weight was reduced in otebo beans by 56% and in white beans, by 46% at the low rate. Shoot dry weight was decreased 26 to 92% in black, otebo, pinto, white, and yellow eye beans at the high rate. There were no differences in the shoot dry weight of the other market classes. Linuron PRE at the low rate reduced otebo bean yield 42% and at the high rate reduced yields by 56, 74, and 61% in black, otebo, and white beans, respectively. There was no effect on the yield of other market classes. Differences in dry bean market class tolerance to linuron exists and may be summarized for these cultivars as cranberry > kidney > brown > yellow eye > pinto > black > white > otebo. Additional research is needed to determine if cultivars within a dry bean market class differ in their response to linuron.