l:J4 



Pltjisiohtfjlcid Prc-dctriniinHttiini 



and less productive than those from the larger seed. His figures for 

 weight of pods and stalks indicate this clearly. 



Some recent work by M. Delassus(i4) strongly favours the inference 

 drawn that Lehmann's results are largely due to physiological pre- 

 determination. Delassus worked with Vicia Faha, Vicia saliva, Luyimis 

 alhus, Cicer arietinum, and Zea Mats. We quote the results he obtained 

 with Vicia Faha. 



Forty large and 40 small seeds were chosen from the same source 

 and subsequently received exactly similar treatment. The seedlings 

 were grown "en pleine terre" ; "dans un sol n'ayant re9U aucune fumure 

 pendant Tannee courante de fa^on a rendre plus sensible encore Taction 

 des reserves de la graine." From the very beginning of germination 

 marked differences were observed and distinct morphological differences 

 manifested themselves throughout the development of the plants 

 produced. In comparison with the plants produced from the sample of 

 large seed those produced from the sample of small seed show a retarded 

 vegetative development which is obvious in the number and dimensions 

 of the leaves and leaflets produced (Table XIII). The root system is 

 also adversely affected in the case of the plants from the small seeds. 



Table XIII. 



The Influence of Seed-size upon the Develo-pment of the Resulting 



Plant in the case of Vicia Faba. 



After 1 month's 

 growth 



After 2 months' 

 growth 



After 3 months' 

 growth 



Lot I 

 664 mm. 



96 

 38G0 



Lot II 

 528 ram. 



78-0 

 308 •() 



20-5 



Lot I* Lot II* Lot I Lot 11 



Growth of ])lants in milH- 171 mm. 146 mm. 408 mm. 323 mm. 



metres 



Number of leaves produced 7-7 6-G 48-7 34-6 



Numberof leaflets produced 19-1 15-1 154-5 112-6 



Breadth of leaflets ... 48-0 mm. 39-9 mm. 47-0 mm. 40-7 mm. — 



Length of leaflets ... 71-9 mm. 59-8 mm. 75-9 mm. 67-1 mm. — 



Dry weight of five samples 5-577 3-428 9-20 5-58 29-3 

 dried at 100° C. for 10 hours 



* Lot T = plants from large seeds; Lot II— plants from small seeds 



It is also to be noted that the number of flowers produced is greater 

 in the plants from the large seeds and that these flowers give rise to more 

 numerous and larger fruits than those of the plants from small seed. 



Striking anatomical and histological differences also become evident. 

 Thus, a greater development of xylem and phloem elements and especi- 

 ally of stereome {i.e. sclerenchyma and colloncliynia) occurs in the case 

 of the plants produced from large seed. 



