Reproductive Abortion in Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)

Although reproductive abortion in Lotus coornculatus has been previously reported, this paper attempts to highlight the relative importance of various stages in the reproductive sequence as contributors to reproductive abortion. Flower buds consistently aborted one floret bud before the flowerhead opens. However, throughout the flowering season only about 30% of the 47 (range 29-72) ovules in an ovary successfully developed seeds and only about half of the florets in an open flower successfully developed pods 30 days later. Since no live pods were found without fully developed seeds, ii is suggested that seed is the main cause of pod abortion and that pods with fewer seeds tend to abort. The combined effects of floret, ovule, seed and pod abortion in contributing to a likely total loss of 70-80% of seed yield potential in Lotus comiculatus is discussed.