Estimation of competition parameters in common bean plants.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate parameters related to the ability of competing or tolerating competition. The experiments were conducted in three seasons, using eight common bean lines with carioca type grains from different origins. Competition at the plant level was evaluated based on the number of pods, number of grains and grain weight (g plant-1). The following competition-related parameters were estimated with the mean data, using a model similar to the diallel: general competing ability (ci), competition tolerance (tj), specific competing ability (sij) and performance per se of every line (aj). The average performance of lines in self-competition was similar to non-self-competition. None of the lines coupled low competing ability (ci high) with high competition tolerance. Highest estimates of aj and ci were observed in line OPNS 331