The effect of foliage phenotype and seed size on the crop growth ofPisum sativum(L)

✍ Scribed by K. A. Pyke; C. L. Hedley

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 620 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2336
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00036880

✦ Synopsis

Studies have been made of the growth of three foliage phenotypes of pea during the early growth of the pea crop prior to the onset of plant-plant interaction. These phenotypes were conventional (AfAfStSr), 'semi-leafless' (ufaf~fSt) and 'leafless' (ufafstst). The 'leafless' type had a lower growth rate compared with the conventional type, after 24 days from sowing and had a reduced relative growth rate (RGR) during the sampling period. The growth of the 'semi-leafless' type, however, was similar to that of the conventional phenotype. The reduced RGR of the 'leafless' plant was due to a reduced RGR of the stem portion of the plant, whereas the RGR of the remainder of the plant was similar in all three phenotypes. For each phenotype, two seed weight classes were sown and their growth compared.

RGR was similar for these pairs of seed weight classes in each phenotype but the heavier seed weight class had a significantly superior growth rate in two of the three phenotypes. This is discussed in relation to the difference in the size of the embryonic axis.

Results are discussed with regard to the development of a new phenotype for the dried pea crop.