With the objective of evaluating the agronomical behavior of alternative cultivars of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the northern region of Minas Gerais, fitting the best plant populations to their irrigated cultivation, two field experiments were conducted in the winter-spring crop of 2007 at the experimental stations of Minas Gerais Agricultural Research Institution in Jaíba and Mocambinho. The randomized block design with three replicates in a 4x5 factorial structure, involving four cultivars (BRS Radiante, Ouro Vermelho, Bolinha, and Novo Jalo) and five population densities (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 thousand plants ha-1). The number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, and average weight of 100 grains were evaluated at harvest for the final stand and grain yield. Increased plant population reduces the number of pods per plant and the number of grains per plant, but does not influence the grain yield. Cultivars BRS Radiante, Novo Jalo, Bolinha, and Ouro Vermelho had good performance in the irrigated winter crop and represent new alternatives to cultivation in the northern region of Minas Gerais.
Phaseolus vulgaris; plant populations; common bean plant
