HISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ABSCISING AND RETAINED SOYBEAN FLOWERS

Abstract

Histological observations of abscising and retained soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) flowers were made to determine the magnitude of the effect of fertilization failure on floral abscission. Amsoy 71 and Wayne cultivars exhibited a total of 7.0 and 8.9% unfertilized ovules, respectively. Ovules of abscising flowers predominantly had proembryos of 4–8 cells, and apparently had ceased development at this stage. Failure of fertilization seemed to play a negligible role in soybean floral abscission.