GENE-ECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PEAS: INFLUENCE OF MICROCLIMATE

PNL Volume 14

1982

RESEARCH REPORTS

Loennig, W. E. Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn

Federal Republic of Germany

Although only short distances apart, different fields and plots of

land may have quite different microclimates which In turn can have sub-

stantial effects on plant growth and development. Figs. 1, 2 and Table

1 show differences in plant height and yield (seeds per plant) for

'Dippes Gelbe Viktoria' and for ten fasciated lines grown at two dif-

ferent locations. The second location was at a higher elevation and

some 2 km from the first.

Fig. 1. Length of DGV and a few fasciated lines in % of DGV at location I.

Fig. 2. Seeds per plant.

PNL Volume 14

1982

RESEARCH REPORTS 37

With respect to plant height, most of the values were well within

the range of variation shown by the control groups of the same lines on

the same field. Mutant 99 9 and recombinant 875 were exceptions which

should be included in further investigations. Under the extremely rainy

weather conditions in Central Europe in 1980 the ratio of 100

(location I): 136 (location II) was found for DGV, reducing most of the

relative values of other lines on location II to a certain degree, but

systematic comparisons of the above mentioned mutants and recombinants

were not made during that year.

As was expected from the 233% seed production (Fig. 2) of the 63

plants of DGV on location II compared to the control groups at location

I (54 plants), most of the mutants and recombinants were not able to

compensate this increased productivity and accordingly their values are

lowered in relation to DGV on location II. Distinct gene-ecological

reactions seem to be involved in the relative differences between the

mother variety DGV and most of its mutants and recombinants under the

conditions investigated. Moreover, mutant 999 and R 859 strongly sur-

passed its mother variety in seed production on location II and

additional gene-ecological reactions seem to be involved here.