First Advisor

Clyde L. Calvin

Term of Graduation

Summer 1999

Date of Publication

6-30-1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology

Department

Biology

Language

English

Subjects

Sweet clover -- Reproduction

DOI

10.15760/etd.4158

Physical Description

1 online resource (iii, 27 pages)

Abstract

Melilotus officinalis, an introduced herbaceous species within the Papilionoideae, has a fixed ovule abortion pattern. In its primarily single-seeded, indehiscent fruits, with an average of 6.98 ovules/fruit, this species matured the basal-most ovule in 67.63% and the second basal-most ovule in 24.22% of the fruits studied. This pattern contrasts with other legumes studied, which abort the basal-most ovules or those at either end of the fruit. Workers propose interaction between two opposing gradients--that of maternal resources from the basal end of the fruit and of fertilization from the stylar end. Several lines of evidence indicate that all ovules are fertilized. Therefore, seed production in M. officinalis appears to correspond to proximity to the resource gradient. Evidence from this study suggests that moisture and nutrients may improve ovule number as well as seed number. Further, fruits located higher on the plant (produced later in the season) produced more 2-seeded fruits.

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44710

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