ARS | Publication request: A Comparative Study of Three Types of Trichomes on Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Flower Gynoecia of Seven Near-Isogenic Lines, a Tetraploid Lines, and the Normal Line of Clark

Submitted to: International Congress On Sexual Plant Reproduction Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 18, 2004
Publication Date: August 18, 2004
Citation: Healy, R.A., Horner, H.T., Bailey, T.B., Palmer, R.G. 2004. A Comparative Study Of Three Types Of Trichomes On Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Flower Gynoecia Of Seven Near-Isogenic Lines, A Tetraploid Lines, And The Normal Line Of Clark. International Congress On Sexual Plant Reproduction Proceedings. Abstract No. 65.

Technical Abstract: It is of interest to identify floral traits that will enhance attraction of pollinators in order to produce hybrid soybeans. Two traits of potential interest are type and number of trichomes on the gynoecium. We studied three types of trichomes on the gynoecia of normal Clark line and how they differed in morphology, number, and distribution from the gynoecia of a tetraploid line, and seven near-isogenic lines that included glabrous, puberulent, sparse, sharp-tipped, dense-1, dense-2, and double dense. The normal line has long, thin-walled unicellular trichomes and short, 5-10-celled secretory trichomes mostly covering the central portion of the gynoecia. Long, thick-walled trichomes are generally concentrated on the dorsal side of the gynoecia and extend part way up the style. The three types are present in all lines except for glabrous, which is missing thick-walled trichomes. Secretory trichomes vary least in number and morphology, whereas unicellular trichomes vary most in number. Thick-walled trichomes vary most in distribution along the gynoecia. The importance of these three types of trichomes to pollination and protection is being investigated.