Title: A Flower and Pod Staging System for Soybean
Abstract: Flower and pod abscission limit soybean yield. A system for quantifying flower and pod development based on the morphological appearance of the flower prior to and following anthesis has been developed to aid in studies of pod abscission. Changes in the appearance of the corolla, primarily the banner petal, are used to distinguish the different stages of the system. External pistil dimensions have been correlated with internal features for each stage of development. From anthesis to pod set, pistil length and weight increase almost two- and fivefold, respectively, and ovule development progresses from unfertilized egg cells to embryos surrounded by cellular endosperm. Pod determined are correlated with ovule length and width and embryo cell number. Flower and pod stages can be determined in situ, thus permitting non-destructive observation and experimental manipulation of flowers or pods without necessarily impeding their development. Stages have been identified that indicate precisely when pod set occurs and when young pods cease growing and ultimately abscise. This system of flower and pod staging is useful in studies designed to assess effects of abiotic or biotic stress and genetic factors on pod set and abortion.
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 29
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