Evaluation and feasibility of root rot damage reduction strategies in common bean farms through agronomic techniques

Bean root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli is one of the major diseases associated with beans. In order to evaluate effective agronomic strategies to control this disease, an experiment has been carried out as a factorial split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications over two years. The experiment takes place in a farm with a history of infection with the causal agent of root rot disease at the Bean Research and Education Campus of Khomein City. Type of cultivation includes flat-striped method, furrowing method without hilling up, furrowing method with one time hilling up, and furrowing method with two times of hilling up in main plot. Also, the two red bean cultivars involve Ofogh and Yaghout and the three plant density include 20, 30, and 40 plant/m2 in a sub-plot with factorial arrangement. Results show that among the studied cultivars, the highest grainyield and minimum bean root rot severity belong to Yaghout cultivar. Additionally,, increasing the plant density adds to the severity of Fusarium root rot disease. Among the different methods of planting, the least root rot severity occurs in the furrowing method with one time of hilling up, while the highest grain yield is obtained from cultivation of Yaghout at a density of 30 plant/m2 in furrowing planting method with one time hilling up. Therefore, in those areas where the occurrence of this disease is very potential, it is necessary to change the method of bean planting from flat to furrowing method and hilling up the plants.