Effect of virus diseases on some major production characteristics of bean cv. Improved Gradištanac

Abstract

The objective of the study has been to analyze the behavior of some bean (cv. Improved Gradištanac) lines to virus diseases under field conditions. The following five lines of the cultivar were studies: 12, 19, 29, 38 and 45. The presence of both bean common mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus was previously confirmed on mother plants. Mechanical inoculation of indicator plants was previously employed in order to test the symptoms of virus diseases. Been seeds were sown in bulks of 80 × 80 cm spaced rows. There were 45 bulks for each of the lines studies. Virus-free seeds of the lines analyzed were used as control. Apart from some phonologically phases (emergence, flowering and ripening stages) the following traits were assessed: total plant height, plant height at first pod, pod number per plant, seed number per pod as well as total yield per unit of area. Based on the results of a 2-year trial it can be concluded that virus diseased bean plants were less vigorous compared with virus-free control plants. All the traits analyzed including yield per unit of area were unfavorably effected. On average virus diseases plants exhibited stunting by approx. 13%, smaller number of seed per plant (approx.13%) and a 25-40% lower yield per hectare.