Effects of Climatic Factors on the Growth and Development of the Field Bean (Vicia FabaL. var.minor)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The rates of phenological development of the field bean cultivars Pirhonen and Primus were predominantly affected by daytime temperature during all phases. The effect of night temperature was less, but the day and night temperature model described the phenological development better than summation of diurnal mean temperatures. The data did not allow isolation of day length effects. Hours of bright sunshine and an estimate of the difference between potential and actual evapotranspiration did not contribute significantly to the regression in addition to day and night temperatures. However, some night temperature responses were probably confounded with insolation effects on the developmental rates. The estimated daily contributions to phenological development were used to make a continuous biometeorological time scale characterizing the developmental stage at each day from sowing to ripening. Developmental rates observed in a phytotron experiment were compared with computed rates at selected combinations of day and night temperatures. Under average conditions, which constituted day and night temperatures of 18.degree. and 12.degree. C, respectively, in the field and constant 15.degree. C in the phytotron, the developmental rates of the plants were similar for both regimes during all phenological phases after emergence. At more extreme conditions, 14/10 compared with 12.degree. C and 22/14 with 18.degree. C constant temperature, there were similar rates during the vegetative phase only. However, for the whole period from 1st flower anthesis to harvesting there was no significant difference in the period length at the highest temperature level, though the difference was still present at the lowest level.