An experiment was carried out from September to November 1998 on the Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil, to study the influence of reducing solar radiation on the production and quality of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). A randomized block design was used with four replications. The bean plants were kept under 100%; 70%; 50% and 30% light under polypropylene screens placed 15 days after emergence (DAE). The 50% reduction in solar radiation decreased the number of pods per plant. The pod weight per plant wasn't affected with the decrease in solar radiation. The plants kept at 100% and 70% sunlight had a greater number of pods per plant and higher weight of pods at 65 DAE. Sunlight reduction did not affect the pod texture
Phaseolus vulgaris; Fabaceae; green bean; radiation light intensity; yield; pod quality
