The location of deterioration within garden pea (Pisum sativum) cotyledons is associated with the timing of exposure to high temperature

Abstract

Plants of two garden pea cultivars were exposed to high temperature (30/25°(; day/night; 12h each) for 4 days at 5 stages during seed development and maturation to determine the effect of high temperature on seed quality parameters and the location of deterioration. Hollow heart was increased by high temperature at rapid seed fill, while single seed conductivity was increased by high temperature during seed maturation in both cultivars and before physiological maturity (PM) in one cultivar. High temperature at rapid seed fill caused deterioration at the adaxial surface of the cotyledons, while that during seed maturation occurred at the abaxial cotyledonary surface. The hollow heart test and the conductivity test therefore detect deterioration at different positions within the cotyledons.