In cauliflower Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis cv. Kibo Giant, patterns of seed abortion and development within developing siliques are nonrandom. All ovules were fertilized from 14 days after anthesis. However, only 70% of the ovules produced mature seeds. Cryptic seed abortion started early in silique ontogeny and reached a maximum at 28 days after anthesis. Ovules located in the middle zone of a silique produced more mature seeds than ovules in stylar and basal zones in that order. Ovules in the first three positions in the stylar zone (positions 1, 2, and 3) and ovules in the last four positions in basal zone (positions 19, 20, 21, and 22) showed higher rates of seed abortion. The nonrandom pattern of seed abortion within a silique is mainly due to partiality in the allocation of maternal resources to the developing ovules at different positions, which enhances maternal fecundity through resource conservation. It may also be due to temporal differences in fertilization, spatial advantage of seeds within the ovary, and superiority of the parental lineage.Key words: Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis, seed development, seed abortion, maternal regulation, seed to ovule ratio.
Genetic relatedness among developing seeds and intra fruit seed abortion in Dalbergia sissoo
(Fabaceae)
