The influence of environmental factors on flowering of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Helena Łabuda,Anna Brodaczewska

doi:10.5586/aa.2007.044

Abstract

French bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.) cultivars cultivated for green pods from six sowing dates (since mid of May till end of June) at weekly intervals were performed in 2003-2005. The study included the determination of the number of inflorescences per plant, number of flowers in inflorescence, length of inflorescence axis, and number of total and marketable pods per plant. French bean sown in the mid of May till the end of June showed the greatest variability with respect to the flowering start date and flowering period length as well as the number of pods set on a plant. French bean plants sown on different dates produced a similar number of inflorescences and flowers per bunch; 61.6-74.6 flowers per plant, on average. Weather conditions in July and August had the greatest influence on the flowering pattern and bean pod setting.

Highlights

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is cultivated in Poland for dry seeds and immature pods, i.e. as green bean – French bean, which in general affects the crop technology of used cultivars.French bean, due to a short vegetation period, may be cultivated with the sowing beginning from mid May till the end of June, which allows the pod harvest period to be extended to six-seven weeks when selecting only several cultivars
Research conducted by Łabuda et al (2006) reveals that snap bean sown in spring in a polyethylene unheated plastic tunnel showed worse pod setting on a plant and a shorter flowering period at air temperatures above 30-35°C at the stage of generative development
This paper aims to evaluate the influence of six dates of French bean sowing at about weekly intervals since mid May till the end of June, on the course of major development stages, flowering abundance, and pod setting

Summary

Introduction

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is cultivated in Poland for dry seeds and immature pods, i.e. as green bean – French bean (snap bean), which in general affects the crop technology of used cultivars.French bean, due to a short vegetation period, may be cultivated with the sowing beginning from mid May till the end of June, which allows the pod harvest period to be extended to six-seven weeks when selecting only several cultivars. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is cultivated in Poland for dry seeds and immature pods, i.e. as green bean – French bean (snap bean), which in general affects the crop technology of used cultivars. Environmental conditions, mainly air temperature and rainfall, greatly affect the growth and development of bean plants as well as they shape the plant’s morphological traits and productivity (Szyrmer et al 1992; Gross and Kigel , 1994; Mouhouche et al 1998; Ibarra - Perez et al 1999). Research conducted by Łabuda et al (2006) reveals that snap bean sown in spring in a polyethylene unheated plastic tunnel showed worse pod setting on a plant and a shorter flowering period at air temperatures above 30-35°C at the stage of generative development. The optimum temperature for bean flowering at daily light of 12 hrs was 27°C, whereas the extension of daylight hours to 18 h allowed the optimum temperature for the bean plant flowering to be decreased to 18°C

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