The influence of plant density on flower, fruit, and leaf demography in bush bean, Phaseolus vulgaris

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 958-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Lovett Doust

The influence of plant population density on bush beans is analyzed in terms of its effect on flower, fruit, and leaf demography, biomass, and yield. Plants grown at the lowest density (solitary plants) did best in terms of leaf production, total leaf days, flowers, and production of marketable pods (i.e., having at least one seed). These plants also accumulated more biomass and had greater numbers of all components of yield. In addition, they showed greater proportionate allocation to reproduction. In all density treatments the second flower cohort (produced 33–35 days after seeds were sown) made the greatest contribution to yield (43–78%). When flower production began, the rate of leaf initiation declined; leaf mortality seemed coupled to the onset of fruit production and was most severe in plants that had many pods to mature. The probability that flowers produced under any density regime would become pods and that these pods in turn would become marketable pods was assessed. Pod production was broken down into two stages: the transition from flower to fruit and from fruit to marketable pod. The results suggest that the transition from flower to fruit is not resource-limited, but the transition from fruit to marketable pod is dependent on current resource supply. When the data are examined on a per pot basis, plants at the highest density were most productive in terms of nonproductive tissues. However, an intermediate density (equivalent to 200 plants/m2) produced the greatest total reproductive biomass and the greatest number of marketable pods per unit area. The value of leaf and flower demography as measures of uniformity of maturation, optimal planting density, and cultivar performance is discussed. Key words: density, flower demography, fruit demography, leaf demography, Phaseolus vulgaris, yield.

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocco Bochicchio ◽  
Roberta Rossi ◽  
Rosanna Labella ◽  
Giovanni Bitella ◽  
Michele Perniola ◽  
...  

The demand for sources of nutraceuticals has led to the rediscovery and diffusion of traditional crops such as chia (<em>Salvia hispanica</em> L.), whose leaves and fruits are rich in W3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants. Chia originates in Central America but it is rapidly expanding to new areas. A field experiment conducted at Atella in Basilicata (Southern Italy) was set up to test the response of chia to N top-dress fertilisation (0 and 20 kg ha<sup>–1</sup>) and to sowing density (D1=125, D2=25, D3=8 and D4=4 plants m<sup>–2</sup>) in a split-plot design with three replications. First results show maximum leaf area index values up to 7.1 and fresh vegetative biomass production at early flowering ranging between 50.87 (D4) and 59.71 (D1) t ha<sup>–1</sup>. Yield increased with plant density: a significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher production (398 kg ha<sup>–1</sup>) was reached in D1. N top-dressing had a detrimental effect on yield and corresponded to higher lodging and lower maturation percentage of seeds, though non-significant. Based on our first results it seems worthwhile to continue agronomical trials for chia in herbaceous systems of southern Italy for leaf production based on traditional genotypes, while fruit production might be pursued by adopting high sowing density and the search for longer-day genotypes.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1684
Author(s):  
Alma Delia Baez-Gonzalez ◽  
Ricardo Fajardo-Diaz ◽  
Jose Saul Padilla-Ramirez ◽  
Esteban Salvador Osuna-Ceja ◽  
James R. Kiniry ◽  
...  

To identify eco-efficient bean cultivars that can be planted at high densities for sustainable bean production under climate change, this study analyzed the performance of ten dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars grown at 90,000, 145,000 and 260,000 plants ha−1 under rainfed semi-arid conditions in Mexico. The study compared the yield and yield components (leaf area index (LAI), pods per plant, and hundred seed weight) of the cultivars. We also analyzed the dry matter distribution (DMD), growth rate (GR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI) of the best performing cultivars to determine how they respond to higher densities. The cultivars were established under similar planting and management conditions during two growing seasons. The precipitation for the first and second seasons were 175 and 492 mm, respectively, representing 57% and 160% of the mean precipitation in the area during the July–October growing period. Pinto Saltillo, a drought-tolerant indeterminate semi-prostrate cultivar, and Azufrado 2, a determinate shrub cultivar, performed best at high densities under low-precipitation conditions (175 mm). Both cultivars responded to the highest density (260,000 plants ha−1) with increases of 54% to 69% (0.7 to 1.1) in LAI and 21% to 86% (0.32–0.81 Mg ha−1) in yield. The two cultivars responded to increasing plant density with a modification in their fraction of DMD over plant parts and a change in their GR from 0.23–0.25 at low density to 0.96–1.74 gr m−2 day−1 at high density. The two cultivars had an RUE of 3.8 to 4.4 g MJ−1 and HI of 0.31 to 0.36 at high planting density. Farmers’ use of these commercially available cultivars proven to have high yields and the ability to respond favorably to high densities under rainfed conditions can be a viable short-term strategy to increase dry bean production for sustainable agriculture in semi-arid temperate regions.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Graham ◽  
J. C. Rosas

SUMMARYThree cultivars of P. vulgaris, tested 39 and 69 days after planting, differed in the extent to which nitrogen (C2H2) fixation and nodule development were affected by plant density.At the 39-day harvest the climbing cultivar P590 declined in fixation from 15·1 μmol C2H4 produced/plant/h at 8·5 plants/m2, to only 4·2 μmol C2H4 produced/plant/h at 41·5 plants/m2; while the prostrate P498 showed consistently high fixation from 8·5 to 41·5 plants/m2. Variation in nitrogen fixation could be explained largely by change in nodule weight, though specific nodule activity (SNA) was affected, particularly in the cultivar P590. Since the percentage soluble carbohydrate in nodules of two varieties increased at certain planting densities while SNA decreased, some nodule dysfunction is possible.Density changes affected leaf, root and stem development in all cultivars, leaves on the lower nodes being most severely affected.At the 69-day harvest two varieties were advanced in filling the pods and showed poor nodulation and limited fixation, even at the widest plant spacings, while nodulation and nitrogen (C2H2) fixation in the third variety, which had just flowered, showed optima similar to the earlier harvest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4995
Author(s):  
Marco Custódio ◽  
Paulo Cartaxana ◽  
Sebastián Villasante ◽  
Ricardo Calado ◽  
Ana Isabel Lillebø

Halophytes are salt-tolerant plants that can be used to extract dissolved inorganic nutrients from saline aquaculture effluents under a production framework commonly known as Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen (common name: sea purslane) is an edible saltmarsh halophyte traditionally consumed by humans living near coastal wetlands and is considered a promising extractive species for IMTA. To better understand its potential for IMTA applications, the present study investigates how artificial lighting and plant density affect its productivity and capacity to extract nitrogen and phosphorous in hydroponic conditions that mimic aquaculture effluents. Plant growth was unaffected by the type of artificial lighting employed—white fluorescent lights vs. blue-white LEDs—but LED systems were more energy-efficient, with a 17% reduction in light energy costs. Considering planting density, high-density units of 220 plants m−2 produced more biomass per unit of area (54.0–56.6 g m−2 day−1) than did low-density units (110 plants m−2; 34.4–37.1 g m−2 day−1) and extracted more dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, H. portulacoides can be easily cultivated hydroponically using nutrient-rich saline effluents, where LEDs can be employed as an alternative to fluorescent lighting and high-density planting can promote higher yields and extraction efficiencies.


Author(s):  
Guotao Yang ◽  
Xuechun Wang ◽  
Farhan Nabi ◽  
Hongni Wang ◽  
Changkun Zhao ◽  
...  

AbstractThe architecture of rice plant represents important and complex agronomic traits, such as panicles morphology, which directly influence the microclimate of rice population and consequently grain yield. To enhance yield, modification of plant architecture to create new hybrid cultivars is considered a sustainable approach. The current study includes an investigation of yield and microclimate response index under low to high plant density of two indica hybrid rice R498 (curved panicles) and R499 (erect panicles), from 2017 to 2018. The split-plot design included planting densities of 11.9–36.2 plant/m2. The results showed that compared with R498, R499 produced a higher grain yield of 8.02–8.83 t/ha at a higher planting density of 26.5–36.2 plant/m2. The response index of light intensity and relative humidity to the planting density of R499 was higher than that of R498 at the lower position of the rice population. However, the response index of temperature to the planting density of R499 was higher at the upper position (0.2–1.4%) than at the lower position. Compared with R498, R499 at a high planting density developed lower relative humidity (78–88%) and higher light intensity (9900–15,916 lx) at the lower position of the rice population. Our finding suggests that erect panicles are highly related to grain yield microclimatic contributors under a highly dense rice population, such as light intensity utilization, humidity, and temperature. The application of erect panicle rice type provides a potential strategy for yield improvement by increasing microclimatic conditions in rice.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Wanying Chen ◽  
Bo Jia ◽  
Junyu Chen ◽  
Yujiao Feng ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  

The mutual shading among individual field-grown maize plants resulting from high planting density inevitably reduces leaf photosynthesis, while regulating the photosynthetic transport chain has a strong impact on photosynthesis. However, the effect of high planting density on the photosynthetic electron transport chain in maize currently remains unclear. In this study, we simultaneously measured prompt chlorophyll a fluorescence (PF), modulated 820 nm reflection (MR) and delayed chlorophyll a fluorescence (DF) in order to investigate the effect of high planting density on the photosynthetic electron transport chain in two maize hybrids widely grown in China. PF transients demonstrated a gradual reduction in their signal amplitude with increasing planting density. In addition, high planting density induced positive J-step and G-bands of the PF transients, reduced the values of PF parameters PIABS, RC/CSO, TRO/ABS, ETO/TRO and REO/ETO, and enhanced ABS/RC and N. MR kinetics showed an increase of their lowest point with increasing high planting density, and thus the values of MR parameters VPSI and VPSII-PSI were reduced. The shapes of DF induction and decay curves were changed by high planting density. In addition, high planting density reduced the values of DF parameters I1, I2, L1 and L2, and enhanced I2/I1. These results suggested that high planting density caused harm on multiple components of maize photosynthetic electron transport chain, including an inactivation of PSII RCs, a blocked electron transfer between QA and QB, a reduction in PSI oxidation and re-reduction activities, and an impaired PSI acceptor side. Moreover, a comparison between PSII and PSI activities demonstrated the greater effect of plant density on the former.


1977 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aguilar M. Immer ◽  
R. A. Fischer ◽  
Joshue Kohashi S.

SUMMARYThe influence of leaf area and inter-plant competition on the growth and yield of a crop of high-yielding dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in central Mexico was studied, using density and thinning treatments. The highest seed yield (4210 kg/ha at 14% moisture) was obtained with the highest density (28·8 plants/m2). Thinning showed that pods/plant was sensitive to inter-plant competition between 36 and 78 days after seeding (first flower at 50 days), but seeds/pod, and especially seed weight, were not sensitive. It is suggested that the close positive relation between yield and leaf area duration derives from the influence of photosynthate supply upon pod number.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Y. Allam ◽  
G. R. El-Nagar ◽  
A. H. Galal

This investigation was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Assiut University during the summers of 2000 and 2001 to study the responses of two sunflower hybrids (Vidoc and Euroflora) to planting dates (May 1st, June 1st and July 1st) and planting densities (55,533, 83,300 and 166,600 plants/ha). The results indicated that the two varieties differed highly significantly in all studied traits except oil yield/ha. The highest seed yield (3.64 t/ha) was obtained with the variety Vidoc. In addition, the results revealed that the planting date exerted a highly significant influence on all vegetative growth traits along with yield and its components. Increasing plant density increased the seed and oil yield/ha. By contrast, the stem diameter, head diameter, 100-seed weight and seed yield/plant decreased with increasing plant density. The interaction between varieties and plant density had a highly significant effect on head diameter. The greatest head diameter (20.06 cm) was recorded for the variety Vidoc planted at lower density. Concerning the interaction between planting density and planting date, the highest seed yield (4.47 t/ha) was obtained from dense plants at the early sowing date, and the highest oil % (45.32) at the late planting date and the lowest plant density. The second order interaction exerted a highly significant influence on stem and head diameter in addition to seed yield/plant, where the highest value (78.13 g/plant) was obtained with the variety Vidoc planted on May 1st at the lowest plant density.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
Emina Mladenović ◽  
Sandra Cvejić ◽  
Siniša Jocić ◽  
Nemanja Ćuk ◽  
Jelena Čukanović ◽  
...  

The aim of this research was to determine the optimum planting density for the production of high-quality cut flowers with desirable characteristics. 25 single-stem ornamental sunflower genotypes were planted at different densities and evaluated for flowering time, flower diameter, and stem circumference and length over a two-year production cycle. Three spacing patterns were used: 25 × 25 cm, 30 × 30 cm, and 70 × 30 cm, which led to the planting densities of 160 000, 90 000, and 60 000 plants/ha, respectively. The plant density had the most important effect on the stem circumference, flower diameter, and stem length (total variation 52, 60, and 58%, AMMI analysis) and a small effect on the flowering time (total variation 1%, AMMI analysis). Based on environment-focused scaling, all high-density environments could be suitable for the production of single-stem sunflower genotypes. The results demonstrated the adaptation of several sunflower genotypes G9, G11, G12, G21, and G22 as the most suitable based on the optimum flower diameter, stem circumference, and stem length. These results may lead to progress in growing ornamental sunflowers as a cut flower.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Noor Shah ◽  
Mohsin Tanveer ◽  
Asad Abbas ◽  
Mehmet Yildirim ◽  
Anis Ali Shah ◽  
...  

High plant density is considered a proficient approach to increase maize production in countries with limited agricultural land; however, this creates a high risk of stem lodging and kernel abortion by reducing the ratio of biomass to the development of the stem and ear. Stem lodging and kernel abortion are major constraints in maize yield production for high plant density cropping; therefore, it is very important to overcome stem lodging and kernel abortion in maize. In this review, we discuss various morphophysiological and genetic characteristics of maize that may reduce the risk of stem lodging and kernel abortion, with a focus on carbohydrate metabolism and partitioning in maize. These characteristics illustrate a strong relationship between stem lodging resistance and kernel abortion. Previous studies have focused on targeting lignin and cellulose accumulation to improve lodging resistance. Nonetheless, a critical analysis of the literature showed that considering sugar metabolism and examining its effects on lodging resistance and kernel abortion in maize may provide considerable results to improve maize productivity. A constructive summary of management approaches that could be used to efficiently control the effects of stem lodging and kernel abortion is also included. The preferred management choice is based on the genotype of maize; nevertheless, various genetic and physiological approaches can control stem lodging and kernel abortion. However, plant growth regulators and nutrient application can also help reduce the risk for stem lodging and kernel abortion in maize.


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