Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-m9pkr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-15T19:33:17.331Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The relationship between number of seeds and the frequency of ovule fertilization in field beans (Vicia faba L.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. G. Rowland
Affiliation:
Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 0W0
D. A. Bond
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 2LQ

Summary

A correlation coefficient of r = 0·985 (P < 0·01) between the number of fertilized ovules at each cultivar-ovule position (Rowland, Bond & Parker, 1983) and the number of mature seeds for each cultivar-ovule position indicated an extremely close relationship between fertilized ovules and seed set in four field bean cultivars. This suggests that unreliability in seed yield in field beans could be due to variability in frequency of fertilization as well as in frequency of abortion of seeds and of whole pods.

Frequency of ovule abortion occurred differentially among cultivars and this abortion rate varied according to the flowering node and flower position within a raceme. Under stress conditions single-seeded pods were preferentially aborted. The data suggest that a way to increase the average number of seeds per pod is through increased frequency of ovule fertilization.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ishag, H. M. (1973). Physiology of seed yield in field beans (Vicia faba L.). I. Yield and yield components. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 80, 181189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kambal, A. E. (1969). Components of yield in field beans, Vicia faba L. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 721, 359363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poulsen, M. H. (1974). Effect of mode of seed setting on yield and earliness in Vicia faba L. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenzuchtung 72, 120131.Google Scholar
Poulsen, M. H. (1975). Pollination, seed setting, cross-fertilization and inbreeding in Vicia fabaL. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenzuchtung 74, 97118.Google Scholar
Poulsen, M. H. (1977). Genetic relationships between seed yield components and earliness in Vicia faba L. and the breeding implications. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 643654.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowland, G. G., Bond, D. A. & Parker, M. L. (1983). Estimates of the frequency of fertilization in field beans (Vicia faba L.). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 100, 2533.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yassin, T. E. (1973). Genotypic and phenotypic variances and correlations in field beans (Vicia faba L.). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 81, 445448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar