Effects of the size of sown seed on growth and yield of common bean cultivars of different seed sizes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of planting different sizes of seed of the same cultivar on biomass accumulation and grain yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars of different seed sizes. A 6 X 2 split-plot factorial design with four replicates was employed, with six bean cultivars as main plots and two seed sizes (small and large, the latter twice as heavy as the former) of the same cultivar as subplots. Eight weekly samplings of biomass were performed, and yield components were measured at maturity. Large seeds increased the leaf area index and the shoot and root biomass of bean cultivars, particularly at the beginning of the growth cycle, but they did not affect the pod biomass. Improved growth associated with the large seed was more intense for erect than for prostrate cultivars. Plants originating from small seed presented a higher relative growth rate and net assimilation rate than plants from large seed. Large seed did not affect grain yield, but reduced the number of seeds per pod, increased the 100-seed mass, and reduced the harvest index. The results indicate that sowing larger seeds of a bean cultivar can improve early-season plant growth, which might be advantageous for crop establishment in stress environments. However, some compensatory effect, associated with delayed leaf senescence, higher net assimilation rate, or greater number of seeds per pod, allows plants originating from small seed to achieve similar grain yield. Lack of consistent effects of the seed size on grain yield indicate that the extra costs of sowing only the largest seed would not be profitable, but large seed resulted in larger grains at harvest which usually attain better market price.

Influence of seed size and water restriction on germination of soybean seeds and on early development of seedlings

“…According to the results obtained in this last study, larger seeds present higher germination and vigor, produce taller plants, which have higher productivity at harvest. Moreover, standardization by seed size is relevant to accuracy of mechanical sowing (Krzyzanowski et al, 1991), as well as to improve visual and commercial aspect of the seed lots (Lima and Carmona, 1999).…”

Leaf senescence of common bean plants as affected by soil phosphorus supply

“…Even in the growth stages of increasing number of live leaves, between 34 and 48 DAE (Figure 1), leaf decay was already going on (Figure 2). Under field conditions, the maximal leaf area index of cultivar Carioca was observed at 40 DAE (Lima et al, 2005). This denotes that the maximum production of biomass of a common bean plant can not be defined only by the standing shoot biomass, since even in the stages of intense growth there is a loss of leaf mass Table 1.…”

La fibra de coco como sustituto de la turba en la obtención de plántulas de uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.)

“…(2005) destacan como características adicionales de alta calidad de germinación y que se presenta a menudo, excepto cuando se siembran semillas extremamente grandes (Jansen et al, 1998). Resultados similares encontraron Lima et al (2005) en semillas más grandes de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), las cuales fomentaron la biomasa de la parte aérea y subterránea de la planta y el índice de área foliar, comparado con las más livianas, especialmente en el crecimiento inicial de la planta; estos autores recomendaron el uso de semillas más pesadas para favorecer el establecimiento de cultivos en sitios con condiciones de estrés. Volumen de raíz El embrión de la semilla contiene la radícula o meristemo radical, del cual se desarrolla la raíz pivotante (Kozlowski y Pallardi, 1997).…”