The effect of spacing among rows and among bean plants, as well as two plant growth habits were evaluated on the intensity of white mold and seed health in two field trials in Brasilia, DF, Brazil. In the first trial, the same population of 27 plants/m² was maintained in rows of 30, 45 and 60 cm apart. In the second trial, the spacing among rows was maintained, which resulted in different plant populations of 40, 27 and 20 plants/m², respectively. Disease incidence and severity did not differ statistically within plants of different growth habits or different spacing, even with divergent disease incidences of 98.4% and 2.7% observed in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The percentage of infected seeds was not affected by spacing either, however the cultivar effect was erratic; in 1998, 'Perola' had no infected seeds and the same occurred with 'Diamante Negro' in 1999.
White mold; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; plant density; plant population; Phaseolus vulgaris
