Flowering in Pisum: Effect of the Parental Environment

The parental photoperiod appears to have no effect on the floweringnode of the progeny, provided the progeny seed is selected tobe of the same weight. However, the parental photoperiod doesinfluence the mean seed weight and seed weight is shown to causesignificant alterations in the flowering node and time as wellas causing alterations in vegetative characters like the internodelength and the rate of leaf expansion and node formation. Theeffect of seed weight on flowering is thought to result fromthe alterations in the growth rate. On the other hand, vernalization of the parents does appearto cause a small, but significant effect on the flowering nodeof the progeny (i.e. it could be transmitted through a meioticdivision). This effect disappears in the next generation andthe possible nature of this effect is discussed. Pisum sativum L, garden pea, flowering, photoperiod, vernalization