Physiological changes in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants with irrigation reduced and foliar applications of PectiMorf®.

The effect of foliar applications of PectiMorf® was studied in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivated under two irrigation variants. For this, 12 concrete containers were planted with the cultivar "Tomeguín 93". The irrigation consisted of applying 100 and 50 % of the ETc (standard evapotranspiration of the crop) and the PectiMorf® foliar applications were 150 mg ha-1 at 20 and 35 days after sowing giving rise to the following four treatments: T1-100 % ETc, considered as control treatment. T2-100 % ETc + P (P = PectiMorf® application at 20 and 35 DAS) T3-50 % ETc + P and T4- 50 % ETc, considered as stress treatment. Seven days after the PectiMorf® applications (28 and 43 DAS) were evaluated, the soil moisture content and different physiological indicators such as growht in dried biomass, leaf water potential (Ψf), actual osmotic potential (Ψs), osmotic potential at maximum turgor (Ψ100s) and stomatal conductance (gs). In addition, the water potential of the soil at the level of the soil-root interfaces (Ψr) and the contribution of dehydration to changes in potential osmotic ΔΨ ss were calculated. The results showed a positive effect of the foliar applications of PectiMorf® in the improvement of plants water status in both irrigation variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]