Competitive interaction between commom black bean cultivars and Euphorbia heterophylla 1

ABSTRACT Weeds can interfere in the growth and development of bean plants if not properly managed, especially the wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla L.). This study aimed to evaluate the competitive ability of black bean cultivars coexisting with wild poinsettia. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design, with four replications. Each treatment consisted of one bean plant of the BRS Campeiro, IPR Uirapuru or SCS Predileto cultivars, living with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wild poinsettia plants, corresponding to populations of 0 plants m-2, 22 plants m-2, 44 plants m-2, 66 plants m-2, 88 plants m-2 and 110 plants m-2. Bean and wild poinsettia plants were assessed for stem diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll content, plant height and shoot dry mass. The bean cultivars behaved differently when cultivated with distinct wild poinsettia populations. The SCS Predileto cultivar showed a higher competitive ability against the wild poinsettia than the BRS Campeiro and IPR Uirapuru, what can be verified by the reduction of leaf area and dry mass of the weed. On average, at a density of 110 plants m-2, the wild poinsettia reduces in approximately 32 % the leaf area and 50 % the dry mass of the bean plants.