Abstract
Growth analysis has been performed on developing seeds and seed components of six contrasting genotypes of Pisum sativum. Seed development has been divided into three phases of high growth rate separated by two ‘lag’ phases, or phases of low growth rate. It is suggested that the timing of these growth phases may not be determined by the developing seed, since there appeared to be no consistent correlation with particular physiological stages of seed development. The relationship between the absolute growth rate of the embryo sac and of the embryo as determined from changes in volume is reflected in the accumulation and absorption of the endosperm. The relative growth rate of the embryo volume was invariably higher than that of the embryo sac although the difference between these two relative rates varied with genotype and may account in part for the difference in seed phenotype. It is suggested that the testa and embryo are sinks which both compete for the endosperm which may act as a common source, and that this relationship accounts for variation in endosperm volume. It is concluded that seed development is dependent on three levels of plant organization, the maternal parent, interactions between the components of the seed and the genetic constitution of the embryo.
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