Effect of antifreeze action products used to prevent frost damage during the vegetative and reproductive stages of common bean

Abstract

Objective: To establish the frost damage to the stem and root nodules and protection degree of products with antifreeze potential, during the V2, V3, R6, and R7 phenological stages of bean.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Black beans with a type II indeterminate bushy habit were collected. Antifreeze (An), amino acids (Am), gibberellins (Gib) and their combinations were applied at 48-hour intervals. Subsequently, the plants were subjected to frost (0 °C) in a freezer for 1.5 h. Damage was evaluated in a 0 to 100% scale. The nodules were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride salt. Stained nodules were considered undamaged and non-stained nodules were considered damaged.

Results: Significant differences were found during the phenological stages and between the antifreeze action product treatments. Stage V3 was the most tolerant to frost, while stages R6 and R7 were the most susceptible. The number of undamaged and damaged nodules showed highly significant differences (p≤0.01) between phenological stages and between treatments, as well as in the total number of nodules. An and Ve+An recorded good effects, followed by Ve+Am. Gib was the least efficient product during the four stages.

Study Limitations/Implications: The increase of substances with antifreeze effect in different doses should be tested.

Findings/Conclusions: Frost caused different levels of damage in each phenological stage. V3 stood out as the most tolerant stage. All the products recorded different protection degrees during the phenological stages. Ve+An, An, and Ve+Am recorded the highest antifreeze action.