METAXENIA EFFECTS ON POD SIZE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMON BEAN

Data indicated that normal maternal control of pod development in the bean line MITA 10597 was influenced in the rate of elongation and the total length of the mature pod when flowers were fertilized by foreign pollen. A plant that normally produces very small pods (MITA 10597) produced pods up to twice as large when the pod was fertilized by pollen from other bean lines (MITA 10598 and 2B-5-1). Possibly these effects are caused by a growth substance (hormone) produced by the embryo, especially during the early (5-10 days) growth of the pod. The effect was observed only in the cross-pollinated pods and not in the selfed pods produced on the same inflorescence. Studies are underway to determine the mode of inheritance. © 1979 American Genetic Association.