Abstract
The ability of nodule-dependent cowpea plant to compensate for loss of immature pods depended not only on the number of pods removed but also on their chronological ranking and whether the number of pods per peduncle was regulated or not. Increases in mean seed weight compensated for a 25 per cent reduction in pod number, providing that the fruits produced during early rather than later reproductive growth were allowed to mature. Furthermore, seed yields were slightly increased compared with the controls when a similarly severe depodding treatment was imposed but over a more protracted period which allowed fewer pods to develop at any given time. The interpretation of data from depodding experiments is discussed.
