High Temperatures During the Seed-Filling Period Decrease Seed Nitrogen Amount in Pea ( L.): Evidence for a Sink Limitation.

Higher temperatures induced by the on-going climate change are a major cause of yield reduction in legumes. Pea ( L.) is an important annual legume crop grown in temperate regions for its high seed nitrogen (N) concentration.

Genetic and genomic analysis of legume flowers and seeds.

New tools, such as ordered mutant libraries, microarrays and sequence based comparative maps, are available for genetic and genomic studies of legumes that are being used to shed light on seed production, the objective of most arable farming. The new information and understanding brought by these tools are revealing the biological processes that underpin and impact on seed production.

How does temperature affect C and N allocation to the seeds during the seed-filling period in pea? Effect on seed nitrogen concentration.

The effect of moderate temperature on seed N concentration during the seed-filling period was evaluated in pea (Pisum sativum L.) kept in growth cabinets and the relation between plant assimilate availability and the variation of seed N concentration with temperature was investigated. Seed N concentration of pea was significantly lowered when temperature during the seed-filling period decreased from a day / night temperature of 25 / 20°C to 15 / 10°C.