Ovule abortion and seed set of field pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> L.) grown under high temperature

In pea, high temperatures during reproductive development lead to severe yield loss. Although the ovule is seed precursor, studies elucidating effect of heat on this plant structure are scarce. We investigated impact in field and growth chamber ovules 4 days after open flower (4DOF) stage. Objectives were identify associations between ovaries performance, evaluate set abortion heat-treated plants for six cultivars from a diverse range seed-to-ovule ratios. field, seeded at early (control, [early ESP]) late (stress [late LSP]) periods season. chambers, exposed (35/18 °C) flowering then evaluated maturity. Stressed (LSP) displayed twice as many aborted than ESP embryo (pro-embryo globular stage) synchrony with reduced ovaries, ovules, sac size. Cultivars ovary size 4DOF related number nodes pods LSP ( r = ?0.44 ?0.48). Similarly, under conditions, caused reduction by increasing immature (early embryonic stages) various nodes. Collectively, our results indicated that pea loss largely due abortion, novel finding, rather disruption pre-fertilization events. Compensatory effects performance infer resource adjustment. Our findings contribute assessment selection high-yielding future warming seasons.