Evaluation and Analysis of Pod Dehiscence Factors in Shatter‐Susceptible and Shatter‐Resistant Common Vetch

Abstract

Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is one of the most important annual forage legumes globally because of its multiple uses and high nutritional content. However, when it matures, the pod dehiscence can cause severe loss of seeds. In this research, we used eight shatter‐susceptible vetch accessions and 16 shatter‐resistant vetch accessions, which were evaluated and selected from 541 accessions, to compare and analyze the influencing factors related to pod dehiscence. We found that the shatter‐susceptible vetches all have abscission layers and that the shatter‐resistant vetches all lack abscission layers. External valve margin cells, which have not been reported in other plants to date, were located externally to the junction of the fruit valve where the valve margin exists, with the abscission layers below in the ventral suture. We found that shatter‐resistant vetches have significantly thicker external valve margin cell walls and obviously fewer pod wall torsion laps than shatter‐susceptible vetches, and there was no significant difference in the pod thickness to width ratio. In conclusion, abscission layers, external valve margin cells, and pod wall torsion laps are the main factors affecting pod dehiscence. Thus, this research lays the foundation for studying the mechanism of vetch pod dehiscence.