Growth of Broad Beans Infected by Botrytis Fabae

SummaryA trial was conducted in 1972 to assess the effect of Botrytis fabae Sard, (chocolate spot) infection on the growth and yield of broad bean ( Vicia faba L.), by sequential sampling at regular intervals to record the growth of the host and the progress of the disease.Growth analysis indicated that the major effect of B. fabae on broad beans was to reduce the leaf area ratio, which was compensated by an increased net assimilation rate, since there was no drop in relative growth rate. The healthy plants outyielded the diseased plants by an average of 27 %. Analysis of the components of yield indicated that the loss in yield was due solely to a decreased number of pods per plant, from which it was concluded that the most damaging effect of chocolate spot infection was on the reproductive aspects of growth.