Abortiveness of Seeds

a noninfectious disease mainly of grains, legumes, and the Cruciferae family. It is caused by their genetic characteristics and by an unfavorable water regime or mineral nutrition in the flowering period and in the initial phase of seed development. Sickly, underdeveloped rudiments form in the beans and pods instead of normal seeds. The yield usually decreases 10–20 percent (often more), and the quality of the remaining seeds deteriorates considerably, although they are outwardly normal. Control measures include growing resistant varieties and using cultivation methods that improve the mineral (mainly phosphorus) nutrition of the plants.