INFLUENCE OF WATER DEFICIT ON THE YIELD COMPONENT OF 3 BEAN CULTIVARS

The objective of this work was to study, in greenhouse, the effect of the water deficit during the flowering period on the yield components of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cvs. Turrialba 4, Rio Tibagi and Empasc 201-Chapeco. The period of suspension of irrigation was 15 days, with continuing irrigation after that period. Plant height, pod growth, number of pods and seeds/plant, number of seeds/pod and weight of 100 seeds were evaluated at harvesting. The conclusions were: Water deficit reduced plant growth in all cultivars, but Rio Tibagi was the most affected. It reduced also the growth of pods, number of pods and seeds/plant and number of seeds/pod. However, the weight of 100 seeds increased in the plants of Rio Tibagi cultivar. The number of pods/plant was the yield component that more influenced in reducing the number of seeds/plant in all cultivars.