Knowledge on time and rate of desiccant application in pre-harvest of common bean is important to prevent yield losses. The objective of this work was to evaluate the yield of the winter common bean after application of paraquat as desiccant at different times (30; 35; 40 and 45 days after the beginning of flowering - DAF) and rates (0; 200; 400 e 600 g ha-1) in pre-harvest. The experiment was conducted in the fall/winter growing season of 2010, in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in a 4 x 4 factorial (application times x herbicide rates), with four replications. The increase in rates of paraquat up to 35 DAF increased linearly the percentage of defective seeds, whereas the seed mass was reduced linearly up to 40 DAF. The yield of the common bean was not affected by paraquat application from the 35 DAF, but the increase in the rate caused linear reduction in this parameter.
Phaseolus vulgaris L.; seeds; herbicide
