Seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with high P concentration, obtained from plants which had received foliar fertilization, were used in a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of seed P concentration on growth and nodulation of common bean during the vegetative stage.The experiment had a 2x2x 3x3 factorial randomized block design with four replicates: two cultivars (Carioca and Rio Tibagi), two seed P concentrations (low and high, corresponding to 4.3 and 5.6mgg-1 for Carioca, and 4.8 and 6.3mgg-1 for Rio Tibagi), three levels of P applied to the soil (0, 30 and 60mgkg-1, respectively, P0, P30 and P60) and three times of harvesting (20, 30 and 40days after emergence - DAE).The high seed P concentration increased the dry matter of bean plants at P0 at the three harvests, and at P30 at 40DAE.Plants originating from high P seeds showed a lower dependence of soil P supply, in regard to dry matter production, than those originating from low P seeds.The high seed P concentration increased the number of nodules in Carioca at P0 by 20 and 30DAE, and increased nodule mass at P30 by 20DAE in both cultivars, and by 40DAE at P30 in Carioca and at P60 in Rio Tibagi.The accumulation of N by shoots at 20DAE was greater in plants originating from high P seeds.The results demonstrate that seeds with high P concentration obtained by foliar fertilization can enhance growth, nodulation and N accumulation of bean plants at early growth stages, particularly at low P levels applied to the soil.
nitrogen; Phaseolus vulgaris; root