[Genetically determined abnormalities of inflorescence development and of flower formation]

In a histological study of two sterile mutants of Pisum sativum induced by X-rays and neutrons, respectively, the following results were obtained: Individuals of the mutant 2228 are characterized by failure to develop normal sexual organs. In the nucellus as well as in the anthers no sporogenous cells are differentiated. Instead, a homogenous mass of cells can be seen to fill the organs, it degenerates sooner or later. In the mutant 172 A no inflorescences are developed at all, so that the change from the vegetative to the generative phase of the plants is blocked. Instead of normal inflorescences so-called vegetative inflorescences are produced. Comparative histological studies showed that in this mutant there remain no residual generative potentialities in either the shoot tips or the leaves.