This work had as main objectives 1) to examine the magnitude of interference effects on bean cultivars, under two population densities, through the use of a new coefficient (Coefficient of Interference); and 2) To verify possible correlations among grain yield and its primary components, for each cultivar. Trials were carried out in the locations of Canguçu and Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the trataments were the cultivars Carioca, Guateian 6662 and Tayhú, under pure stand and under two mixed populations. Mixtures of cultivars were 240.000 (Mis1) and 120.000 (Mis2) plants.ha-1 equivalent. Traits under study were number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, one-hundred seed weight and grain yield. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replications. It was observed that Tayhú presented yield increase under mixture, mainly at Mis1, characterizing the presence of positive effects of interference; Carioca and Guateian 6662 revealed neutral effects of interference on their grain yield at Mis1 and negative effects at Mis2. A simple correlation analysis has been performed. Phenotypic correlation analysis pointed out to cultivar and environment dependency, on definition of component influence, resulting being useless for breeding purposes or yield prediction.
Phaseolus vulgaris L.; interference coefficient; mixtures; pure stand; correlation; allelopathy
