Key loss factors and critical components of Common beans in tropical regions under different growing season and planting systems

Abstract

Knowledge about the critical production components and the key loss factors is essential for adequately managing the Common beans crop. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and quantify the losses in the production components, determining the critical components and key loss factors for three growing seasons and two planting systems and associating the loss factor in the production components with the relative abundance of insect pests on the Common beans crop. The planting system did not influence losses and productivity. Note that the lowest yields and highest losses were found in spring–summer. The critical production component was a flower for the winter–spring, spring–summer and summer–autumn seasons and ovules for the spring–summer period. Flower abortion was the key loss factor for the critical flower component, and ovule poor formation was the key loss factor for the critical ovule component.