Exogenous Growth Substances and Internal Competition in Vicia faba L.

Abstract

Summary Even under near optimal conditions the field bean plant sheds more of its flowers than mature to ripe pods, an effect attributable to competitive relations within the plant. Application of growth substances, notably TIBA and daminozide to the apex and benzyladenine and gibberellic acid to the inflorescences, can be shown to modify such competition and enhance reproductive at the expense of vegetative growth with consequent implications for yield. These results are considered in relation to current breeding objectives for this crop.