Comparisons of Earlier- and Later-formed Pods of Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

In chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) flowering and pod developmentproceed acropetally. In plants grown under normal field conditionsat Hyderabad, in peninsular India, and at Hissar in north India,at successively apical nodes of the branches there was a declinein pod number per node, weight per pod, seed number per podand/or weight per seed. The percentage of nitrogen in the seedswas the same in earlier and later-formed pods at Hyderabad;at Hissar the later-formed seeds contained a higher percentage.Earlier- and later-formed flowers contained similar numbersof ovules. The decline in seed number and/or weight per seedin the later-formed pods of 28 out of 29 cultivars indicatedthat pod-filling was limited by the supply of assimilates orother nutrients. By contrast, in one exceptionally small-seededcultivar there was no decline in the number or weight of seedsin later-formed pods, indicating that yield was limited by ‘sink’size. Cicer arietinum L., chickpea, flowering, pod development, seed number, seed weight, nitrogen content     

The effects of flower removal on the seed yield of pigeonpeas (Cajanus cajan)

In field experiments carried out at Hyderabad, India with early and mediumduration cultivars of Cajanus cajan sown at the normal time, in July, removal of all flowers and young pods for up to 5 wk had little or no effect on final yield. The flowering period of the deflowered plants was extended and their senescence delayed. The plants compensated for the loss of earlier-formed flowers by setting pods from later-formed flowers; there was relatively little effect of the deflowering treatments on the number of seeds per pod or weight per seed. The plants were also able to compensate for the repeated removal of all flowers and young pods from alternate nodes by setting more pods at the other nodes.
The removal of flowers from pigeonpeas grown as a winter crop resulted in yield reductions roughly proportional to the length of the deflowering period, probably because maturation of these plants was delayed and occurred under increasingly unfavourable conditions as the weather became hotter.     

Density Studies on Lupins. II. Components of Seed Yield

Components of seed yield of cv. Ultra (Lupinus albus L.) andcv. Unicrop (L. angustifolius L.) were measured when grown atthree densities. The low density (10 plants m^–2) Unicropyield (34 g seed per plant) was 1.8 times that of Ultra as ithad more branches, pods and seeds per pod. Ultra seeds (310mg per seed) were heavier than Unicrop seeds (180 mg). The branchingpattern of Ultra was less dependent on plant density, henceat 93 plants m^–2 it gave a higher per plant yield (7.4vs 6.4 g) than Unicrop at lower densities (83 plants m^–2).Density had most influence on pod formation and only small effectson seeds per pod and seed weight. Yield components on the main-steminflorescence were influenced less by density than componentson branch inflorescences. Later formed, higher order generationsof inflorescences were most affected by increased inter- andintra-plant competition. Pod numbers on the main-stem were similarfor both species. Pods formed at higher flower nodes in Unicrop,but the lower flower nodes were less fertile than those in Ultra.Node position of flowers had no influence on seed set in main-stemUnicrop pods, but pods from higher nodes in Ultra formed fewerseeds. Seed weights in Unicrop were similar among main-stemnodes but in Ultra seed weights tended to increase at highernodes. Lupinus spp, lupins, seed yield, planting density     

A Model to Simulate the Final Number of Reproductive Nodes in Pea (Pisum sativumL.)

The final number of reproductive nodes (TRN) is highly variablein pea under field conditions and can limit yield. However,the determinants of this variability are unknown. This is aproblem for crop managers and for many crop simulation models,in which the assimilate production and partitioning modulesgenerally depend on a phenological module including simulationof TRN. Previous studies in growth cabinets have linked theend of flowering to the presence of growing pods near the apex.We investigated the effects of the position of reproductiveorgans on the stem on the cessation of leaf emergence by analyticalexperiments involving pod removal. We then analysed whetherdevelopmental characteristics, obtained in the field for variousgenotypes, locations, sowing dates, plant nitrogen status, plantwater status and plant densities, could account for the observedvariation in the number of reproductive nodes. On the basisof these results, we constructed a simple model simulating TRNfrom three developmental parameters. The model was calibratedon cultivar ‘Solara’, evaluated for a wide rangeof situations and extrapolated to many genotypes, and was foundto have high predictive value.Copyright 1998 Annals of BotanyCompany Pisum sativumL., pea, number of reproductive nodes, model, genotype, N nutrition, pod removal, plant density, development, flowering, apical senescence     

Diversity of pea (Pisum sativum) accessions based on morphological data for sustainable field pea breeding in Argentina

We characterized 13 accessions of dry peas of different origins from various growing regions in Argentina, based on three replications of 20 plants cultivated in 2009 and 2010 in a greenhouse, with the objective of selecting those with favorable characteristics for use in breeding programs. Significant differences were found for length and width of stipule and pod, length of the internodes and leaflets, plant height, total number of nodes, number of nodes at the first pod, number of days to flowering and to harvest, number of pods and seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and grain diameter, demonstrating a high degree of genetic variability. Phenotypic correlation analysis demonstrated that large pods produced more seeds per pod, but the seed weight decreased. Plants with smaller number of nodes in the first pod were more productive. Estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients indicated a strong inherent association among the different traits. Clustering methods grouped the accessions into five clusters. Cluster 5 included two accessions and showed the highest values for length and width of stipules (4.9 and 4.5 cm, respectively), length of leaflets (7.43 cm) and days to flowering (122.6), while cluster 3, with one accession, and cluster 4, with two accessions, showed the highest values for number of seeds per pod (3.78 and 4.39), number of pods per plant (5.33 and 5.70), length of pods (5.54 and 5.72 cm), and width of pods (1.21 and 1.20 cm, respectively). We conclude that accessions in clusters 3 and 4 would be useful for crosses with other cultivars in pea breeding programs.     

Regulation of Leaf Senescence by Reproductive Sink Intensity in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

The relationship between seed number per pod and senescenceof the leaf in its axil was examined in a determinate cowpea(Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) variety C.779. The seed number perpod was reduced at all fruiting nodes by surgical excision ofpart of the 4-d-old pod. Leaf senescence as measured by lossof leaf area, chlorophyll content and soluble protein was sloweddown in leaves supporting the development of an artificiallyreduced number of seeds. Diminished nitrogen mobilization fromthe leaf could not account for the reduced rate of leaf senescence.The result suggests the involvement of a senescence signal fromthe developing seeds to the leaf in its axil. Development ofthe basal half of the excised pod in the cowpea provides a uniquesystem for manipulating seed number per pod. Senescence, monocarpic, chlorophyll, protein, Vigna unguiculata, cowpea     

Initiation and Morphogenesis of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) Pods in Solution Culture

A recently-developed solution culture technique was used tostudy the effects of aeration and calcium (Ca) on groundnut(ArachishypogaeaL.) pod development. Two experiments were conductedwith seven groundnut lines, TMV-2, Chico and A116L4 (Spanish),CBRR4 (Valencia), A125L25 (ValenciaxSpanish), and Shulamit Strain1 (SH-1) and Virginia Brunch Strain 1 (VB-1) (Virginia). Plantswere grown in a potting mix, and the attached gynophores culturedin darkened polycarbonate jars containing nutrient solution.Non-aeration of solution prevented pod development, but podsand seeds of all lines developed in aerated, darkened nutrientsolutions (ionic strength approx. 9 mM). Normal pods and seedswere produced by TMV-2, Chico and CBRR4, but constricted podsdeveloped in SH-1 and VB-1. A secondary gynophore developedbetween the basal and apical seed compartments in A116L4 andA125L25, and in VB-1 at high Ca (500–2500 µM) insolution. The secondary gynophores were similar to those producedin otherArachisspp. but not usually found in cultivated formsofA. hypogaea.Septate and non-septate hairs developed on submergedgynophores and pods, but were sparse on those of SH-1 and VB-1.The magnitude of the effects of aeration and Ca concentrationon pod initiation and morphogenesis differed in experimentsconducted in summer and winter and among the lines tested.Copyright1998 Annals of Botany Company Arachis hypogaeaL., calcium, groundnut, pod morphology, secondary gynophore, solution culture.     

Stimulation of Pod and Ovule Growth of Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. by 6-Benzylaminopurine

Flowers at distal nodes on soybean racemes usually fail to setpods and subsequently abscise. Physiological and histologicalstudies were performed to determine the influence of 6-benzylaminopurine(BAP) on distal pod development. The pedicels of fully openedflowers on terminal racemes of field-grown IX93-100 soybeanplants were treated three times with 200 mg kg^-1 BAP in lanolinover a 6-d period. Racemes were then excised and ³²P uptakewas recorded for each flower position within a raceme; histologicalfeatures of pedicels and ovules also were determined. Applicationof BAP increased pod and ovule length, width and weight at allfour distal nodes (D, D-1, D-2, D-3) relative to controls treatedwith lanolin. Length and width of parietal endosperm cells weresmaller in BAP-treated ovules at the most proximal node beingstudied (D-3), and greater numbers of parietal endosperm cellswere observed at D-1 and D-3 nodes when compared to lanolincontrols. Smaller amounts of starch were found in suspensorcells, endosperm, and integuments of lanolin-treated ovules,and starch depletion over time was observed within starch sheathsof pedicels from lanolin-treated pods when compared to BAP-treatedtissues. BAP-treated racemes had more ³²P uptake at the fourmost distal nodes. A higher rate of uptake (cpm mg^-1 f. wt)was evident in ovules than in ovary tissues. These results suggestthat for racemes otherwise destined to abscise, applicationof BAP promotes pod set and growth by stimulating ovule development.Copyright1993, 1999 Academic Press Pod, ovule soybean, abscission, 6-benzylaminopurine     

Biochemical changes in developing seeds of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Soluble sugars, starch, soluble nitrogen and protein nitrogen were studied in developing seeds of 3 cultivars of pigeonpea. When expressed on a per seed basis soluble sugars increased up to 35 days after flowering and then declined slightly. Rapid starch accumulation was observed between 14 and 28 days after flowering. The levels of soluble nitrogen and protein nitrogen underwent rapid changes during the same period. Amino-acid composition of seed protein was also studied at different stages of maturation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of salt-soluble proteins revealed that seed storage globulins are formed after 14 days of flowering and do not change much during later stages of maturation.     

Rate of Increase in Size and Dry Weight of Individual Pods of Field Grown Soya Bean Plants

The dry weight of the whole fruit, the pod wall and an enclosedseed of randomly harvested soya beans is estimated from theexternal dimensions of the attached pod. The relations betweendimensions and dry weight are independent of cultivar and growthcondition and can be used on pods from 1 cm in length untilthe seeds reach their maximum fresh weight. Dimensions of tagged pods of three cultivars of field grownsoya beans differing in time to reach maturity were measuredevery 2–3 days from initial pod elongation until maturation.Dry weights for each pod were estimated from the dimensions,and the dry weight accumulation with time was fitted to thelogistic function to find the growth rate that best characterizedthe data for each pod. The final weight, the specific growthrate and the maximum growth rate of the whole fruit, the podwall and a single seed were subjected to analysis of variance. The most significant difference between pods of these cultivarswas the specific growth rate of individual seeds, which decreasedwith increasing maturity group. There were no differences ingrowth of the pod wall. However, most of the variation was betweenindividual pods within a cultivar, where the rate of dry weightaccumulation of the whole fruit, governed largely by the seedgrowth rate times the number of seeds, was highly correlatedwith the earlier growth of the pod wall. This suggests thatthe growth of individual whole fruit was determined early inpod development and was slightly influenced by factors appliedduring the period of rapid seed growth. Glycine max (L.) Merrill, Soya bean, seed growth analysis, specific growth rate     

Morphological and Agronomic Traits of a Wild Population and an Improved Cultivar of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Through the process of domestication, bean varieties have beenselected from their wild ancestors for various anthropocentrically-importantcharacteristics. In order to compare some agronomic and morphologicaltraits of a wild population and a modern variety (cv. Bayo Mecentral),the following variables were evaluated: growth habit; numberof nodes on the main stem; number of branches and pods per plant;flower and pod colours; stem length; days to initiation of flowering;days to physiological maturity and duration of flowering. Variationin each trait was recorded, particularly in the wild population.The growth habits of the wild population were very diverse andthere were positive and significant correlations between 13pairs of variables, including the number of nodes on the mainstem, pods per plant, days to flowering and duration of flowering,whereas domesticated beans gave only a few significant correlations.The analysis of principal components indicated that the linearcombination of agronomic and morphological variables, involvingthe first three principal components, accounted for 70% of thetotal variability of the data, and the populations were clearlyseparated as two biological entities by the first principalcomponent. This study confirms that the process of domesticationhas acted to reduce variation in a range of characters. Growth; growth habit; Phaseolus vulgaris ; domestication     

Defoliation and its Effects on Pod and Seed Development in Oil Seed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Both in vivo and in vitro techniques have been used to followthe development of individual pods on the terminal inflorescenceof undefoliated and defoliated plants of oil-seed rape (Brassicanapus cv. Maris Haplona). For any pod, a rapid increase in podlength occurred between 2 d and 8 d after flower opening andthis preceded by approximately 2 d the increase in pod width,the rate of which was less than that for length. An increasein the diameter of individual seeds coincided with the increasein pod width. Regional increases in the length and width ofpods were associated with the presence of developing seeds inthese regions. Key words: Brassica napus L., Development, In vivo, Pod and seed, Stress     

Inheritance of seed protein content and other agronomic characters in long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis Fruw.)

Summary Seven varieties of long bean, which included three local and four exotic, were crossed in a complete diallel. This was an attempt to study the inheritance of crude protein content, protein yield, flowering date, pod yield and yield components.Both additive and non-additive gene effects were responsible for the genetic variation in the diallel population. However, dominance variance was more important than additive variance in crude protein content, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod. For seed weight and pod length, additive variance was more important.The crude protein content, protein yield and number of pods per plant appeared to be controlled by overdominance effects. Partial dominance seemed to be the case for flowering date, pod length and seed weight; complete to overdominance for pod yield. High protein appeared to be associated with recessive genes whereas there was a general trend of high yielding parents carrying more dominant genes.     

Ovule Development and Determination of Seed Number Per Pod in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Seed number per pod at maturity over the terminal raceme ofsingle plants of oilseed rape is closely correlated to the percentageof ovules with complete embryo sacs (ovule fertility) at floweropening. Approximately one-third of the ovules did not containan embryo sac and sterility, due to the absence of embryo sac,accounted for most of the difference between the numbers ofovules and seeds. Within the terminal raceme, both a decreasedproportion of fertile ovules and a lower number of ovules perovary in apical flowers contributed to the lower number of seedsper pod in the mature apical pods compared to the basal ones.A study of ovule development before flower opening showed thatdifferences in the differentiation of the embryo sacs arosebefore the buds were 40 mm long and probably involved the stagesof meiosis II and/or differentiation of the chalazal megaspore. Key words: Oilseed rape, ovule development, seed number per pod     

Factors Affecting Shedding of Flowers in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Flower shedding in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, was studiedusing cultivar ‘Clark’, isoline E₁t, which has relativelylong racemes for convenient identification and observation ofindividual flowers. On each raceme studied, pod set was greatestat the proximal (basal) positions, whereas shedding was greatestat the most distal positions. When proximal flowers were removedas they reached anthesis, pod set increased at the more distalpositions. Pod set was increased in some instances by applicationof water directly to the ovaries as a drop in the calyx cup.Peroxidase activity changed in parallel with ovary development,increasing rapidly in growing pods but not in shedding flowers.Increases in flower peroxidase was mainly in ovary walls. Flowerstaken at or near anthesis from positions with high percent podset could be grown in vitro with especially good ovary enlargement,whereas ovaries in flowers taken from positions of low pod setdid not enlarge in culture. Unidentified substances were extracted from young pods which,when incorporated into lanolin and tested in an in situ bioassay,could mimic the effect of proximal flowers in inducing sheddingof distal flowers. Indole-3-acetic acid resembled the extractedmaterials in inducing shedding, but differed by eliciting side-effectsthat extracts did not. The growth substances abscisic acid,gibberellic acid, and benzyladenine did not promote sheddingin the in situ test. The evidence was taken to indicate that soybean flower sheddingis induced in distal flowers by substances from the more proximal,fertilized ovaries, and that this is possibly due to interferencewith some of the intense metabolic changes that follow pollinationand fertilization.     

Nitrogen incorporation and remobilization in different shoot components of field-grown winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) as affected by rate of nitrogen application and irrigation

The seasonal course of nitrogen uptake, incorporation and remobilization in different shoot components of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was studied under field conditions including three rates of ¹⁵N labelled nitrogen application (0, 100 or 200 kg N ha^-1) and two irrigation treatments (rainfed or watered at a deficit of 20 mm). The total amount of irrigation water applied was 260 mm, split over 13 occasions in a 7-week-period ranging from 1 week before onset of flowering until 4 weeks after flowering.Nitrogen application and irrigation increased plant growth and nitrogen accumulation. Irrespective of N and irrigation treatment more than 50% of total shoot N was present in the stem when flowering started. At the end of flowering, pod walls were the main N store containing about 30–40% of shoot N. The quantities of N remobilized from stems and pod walls amounted in all treatments to about 70% of the N present in these organs at mid-flowering. At harvest, stem and pod walls each contained about 10% of total shoot N, the remaining 80% being incorporated into seeds. The main component contributing to the response of seed N accumulation to nitrogen application and irrigation was pods in axillary racemes. Up to 20 kg N ha^-1, corresponding to about 10% of final shoot N content, was lost from the plants by leaf drop.Irrigation increased the recovery at harvest of applied N from 30% to about 50%, while the level of N application did not affect the N recovery. ¹⁵N labelled (fertilizer derived) nitrogen constituted a greater proportion of the N content in old leaves than in young leaves and increased with age in the former, but not in the latter. Relative to soil N, fertilizer derived N also contributed more to the N content of vegetative than to that of reproductive shoot components. Small net changes in shoot N content after flowering reflected a balance between N import and export, leading to continuous dilution of ¹⁵N labelled N with unlabelled N.     

A Physiological Analysis of the Branching Pattern in Sequential Types of Groundnut in Relation to the Fruiting Nodes and the Total Mature Pods Produced

The branching pattern of eight sequential branching types ofgroundnut was studied and the contribution of each node (fruitingpoint) of the n, n+1 and n+2 branches (if present) to the totalnumber of mature pods per plant ascertained. The results indicatedthat n+2 branches were present in several varieties and theircontribution to mature pods was significant in some of them.The first three nodes of the n+1 branches contributed from 50.6per cent (in a variety which had significantly more n+2 branches)to 88 per cent in other varieties. The results also indicatedthat the contribution of the late formed n+1 branches was lowand the total mature pods produced from all nodes decreasedwith each successive (chronologically) n+1 branch in all thevarieties studied. Neither the total number of n+1 branchesnor the number of mature pods per node was related to the podnumber or pod yield, but the total number of fruiting pointsfrom all branches showed a high correlation with pod yield andmature pod number at harvest. The results suggest that for higherpod yield it may be desirable to have only a few n+1 branches(4 or 5) but with more fruiting points on each branch. Arachis hypogaea, branching pattern, sequential types, fruiting points     

A Top-Down Hierarchy in Fruit Set on Inflorescences in Iris fulva (Iridaceae)

Abstract: In Iris fulva, the apical flower on an inflorescence opens first, and the flowering sequence then proceeds from the most basal flower upward to the apex (acropetally). Flowering order and flower position are thus partially decoupled, and this provides an opportunity to separately investigate the effects of these two factors upon fruit formation. We recorded natural patterns of fruit set and seed production, and found that fruit set patterns were determined by what appears to be a form of apical dominance. The first, apical flower had the highest fruit set and seed production. Fruit set decreased towards the base of the inflorescence, with later-opening flowers having a higher fruit set. This is contrary to the pattern usually observed in other acropetally flowering plants, which is a higher fruit set for basal, early flowers. By performing additional hand pollinations and counting pollen grains on naturally pollinated flowers, we found that pollen deposition was not a major factor limiting fruit set, and that it could not explain the large difference in fruit set between the apical and basal flowers. Removing the first flower after it had wilted increased fruit set in the remaining flowers, but mainly in the more apical flowers. Only by removing the two topmost flowers could we obtain an increase in fruit set for the basal flower. The fact that the basal flower rarely sets fruit, despite being closer to resources, suggests that the apical meristem is either a strong sink for resources or produces hormones that form a gradient along the inflorescence, which is comparable with apical dominance.     

Effects of Nutrient Supply on Seed Growth of Field Bean (Vicia faba L.). 1. Effects of Different Sulphur and Methionine Regimes on Cotyledon Growth, Protein and Uncombined Amino Acids In vivo

The effects of exogenous methionine on growth of developingVicia faba seeds in vivo was studied. Methionine (51 or 102µmol in total) injected into the base of the pod overa period of 15 d (26–40 d after pollination) decreasedgrowth and protein accumulation in proximal seeds but increasedin distal seeds. Distal seeds of methionine injected pods accumulatedmore d. wt and protein than distal seeds of water-injected pods.However, on a pod basis methionine reduced overall seed growthand protein accumulation. Exogenous methionine caused a relative increase in legumin buta decrease in vicilin. Injected methionine also affected thecomposition of uncombined amino acids, especially those derivedfrom aspartic acid. In contrast, the amino acid compositionof the protein fraction did not change appreciably. The data suggest that seed growth is not limited by methioninebiosynthesis but seed protein composition is regulated by methionine. Vicia faba L., field bean, cotyledon, growth, in vitro culture, uncombined amino acids, protein composition, legumin, vicilin, methionine, sulphur     

Effects of Botrytis fabae infection and mechanical defoliation on seed yield of field beans (Vicia faba)

Effects on seed yield of mechanical defoliation and inoculation with Botrytis fabae were compared using pot-grown plants of Vicia faba (cv. Maris Beagle). Treatments, which were made at the end of flowering, were applied singly and in all combinations to leaves (a) below, (b) at, and (c) above the flowering nodes (i.e. 2³ factorial). Yield was unaffected by treatments applied to leaves below the flowering nodes. Removal of leaves at flowering nodes did not reduce the number of pods but yield was reduced because there were fewer and smaller seeds. Inoculation of this zone also reduced yield; pods were lost at some nodes but it could also be shown that, irrespective of pod loss, yield at individual nodes was reduced in proportion to the severity of infection on leaves at the same nodes. Removal of leaves above flowering nodes reduced yield almost to the same extent as removal of leaves at flowering nodes but inoculation resulted in only a small amount of infection and yield was not reduced significantly. These results, taken in conjunction with recent studies on the physiology of the host plant, show that beans are exceptionally vulnerable to attack by B. fabae at the stage of flowering and early pod development. At later stages of development infection is unlikely to have a substantial effect on yield.