Growth performance and yield contributing traits of Kharif French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties under different dates of sowing

A field experiment was laid out during the Kharif 2024-25 at the experimental farm, Department of Agronomy, VNMKV, Parbhani, to assess the performance of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties under different sowing dates. The experiment followed a Split Plot Design with three sowing dates viz., 25^th (D₁), 27^th (D₂), and 29^th (D₃) Standard Meteorological Weeks (SMW) as main plot treatments, and three varieties viz., Varun (V₁), Phule Viraj (V₂), and Phule Rajma (V₃) as subplot treatments, with three replications. The results indicated that sowing during the 27^th SMW (D₂) significantly enhanced growth parameters, including plant height (35.00 cm), number of branches per plant (5.53), functional leaves per plant (19.92), leaf area (12.23 dm²), and dry matter accumulation (21.77 g). Among the varieties, Phule Viraj (V₂) exhibited superior growth, recording the highest values for these traits, while Varun (V₁) showed the lowest performance. In terms of yield attributes, D₂ produced significantly higher number of pods per plant (11.75), pod dry weight (11.63 g), seed weight per plant (8.79 g), and seed index (20.79 g), as compared to D₁ and D₃. Phule Viraj (V₂) recorded the highest seed yield attributes, including number of seeds per pod (3.72), pod dry weight (11.25 g), seed weight per plant (9.46 g), and straw yield (14.29 g plant⁻¹), as compared to Phule Rajma and Varun. A significant interaction was observed between D₂ and V₂ (D₂V₂), suggesting a synergistic effect in terms of biomass accumulation and yield potential. It is concluded that the French bean variety Phule Viraj, when sown during the 27^th Standard Meteorological Week, is best suited for optimizing growth and yield parameters under the agro-climatic conditions of Marathwada during the Kharif season.