Grain production and incidence of galling nematodes in common bean

Abstract

The interaction environmental genotype in common bean crops (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and their reaction to Meloidogyne spp., are aspects insufficiently addressed despite the influence they have on the productive results of this crop. The productive potential of five common bean crops was determined, in agroecosystems in Pinar del Río, Cuba, and the incidence of a population of Meloidogyne spp. in the vegetative phase of the crop. To this end, field experiments were established in ‘San Juan and Martínez’ and ‘Sandino’, on Ferralitic yellowish and Fluvisol soils, respectively. Commercial crops (treatments) were used: ‘BAT 304’ (commercial production witness), ‘CUL 156’, ‘Buenaventura’, ‘Delicias 364’ and ‘Chevere’. A test was also developed, under semi-controlled conditions with pots of 1. 5 kg and substrate based on ferralitic yellowish + peat soil (70% + 30%), with and without inoculation of Meloidogyne spp. (1.5 J2-eggs g-1 substrate) in the crops referred. The differences between crops and their interaction with agroecosystems showed a marked influence on grain production, although the best results were obtained with the crops ‘CUL 156’ and ‘Buenaventura’, because they exceeded by 25% the agricultural yield of the commercial production witness, in the agroecosystem of 'San Juan and Martínez’ and ‘Sandino’, respectively. It was confirmed that the cultivars evaluated are hosts of Meloidogyne spp., although ‘Buenaventura’ expressed lower infection index for the level of inoculum used, while the inverse relationship between weight and the number of guts and ootheca in the radical system of plants, suggested a harmful effect of these phytonematodes on the vegetative phase of the crop.