Effect of Number of Photoperiodic Cycles on Flowering and Fruiting in Early and Late Varieties of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Early and late varieties of the short day plant, Abelmoschusesculentus (L.) Moench. (= Hibiscus esculentus L.), were subjectedto various numbers of short days (SD; 10 h natural daylight)before transfer to 16 h long days. Short day treatments werestarted at the time of cotyledon release following seed germination,and their effects on the induction and development of flowersand fruits were recorded. While early okra required 6 SD cyclesfor the induction of flowering in all plants, late okra required14. However, both varieties needed more than 20 SD cycles forflower opening; flower buds produced by plants given fewer SDcycles abscinded with little or no development. In both varieties,the number of flower buds produced on each plant increased asthe number of short day cycles was increased from 5 to 20; flowerbuds were initiated at more axillary bud sites on the main stem.Three fruits were formed on each plant of both varieties subjectedto more than 30 SD cycles but, while the last formed fruit abscindedwithout development, the other two developed and became filledwith seeds. However, the greatest yield in fruit dry weightwas from plants kept under SD throughout and also in late okraplants given 55 SD. In general, the total number of seeds perplant increased as a larger number of SD cycles were imposed.     

Factors Affecting the Flowering of Andropogon gayanus Kunth. Responses to Photoperiod, Temperature and Growth Regulators

Andropogon gayanus is a short-day plant with a critical daylengthfor flowering between 12 and 14 h. Flowering is more intenseas the daylength is shortened from 12 h to 8 h, initiation isalso accelerated by increasing durations of short-day treatment.Plants flower more readily with increasing age. The maximumflowering response can be induced by short-day exposure of onlyone expanding leaf. A fixed number of short days distributedamong different groups of leaves on the plant gave less floweringthan the same number given to only one group. Approximately25°C was optimal for flowering. Root removal treatmentsin short day reduced both growth and flowering responses. Application of the growth regulators indol 3yl-acetic acid,abscisic acid, gibberellic acid or dimethylaminosuccinamic acid(B9) was inhibitory to flowering in all cases but gibberellicacid and B9 applied simultaneously had no inhibitory effect.Growth hormone treatments failed to stimulate flower developmentin long day. These results are discussed in relation to the internal mechanismscontrolling growth and flowering.     

Photoperiod Responses of Corchorus olitorius L. in Controlled Environments

Controlled environments were used to establish the base-linegrowth and to evaluate the photoperiodic response of two Tossajute (Corchorus olitorius) cultivars. Fresh and dry weightsof shoots and roots, leaf areas and stem lengths were much greaterat long day (LD) 12·5, 11·5 than LD 11·5,12·5 photoperiods for both cultivars. Root lengths weregreater at LD 12·5, 11·5 initially but were longestat LD 11·5, 12·5 at 35 days from emergence. Meanrelative growth rates (MRGR) were similar irrespective of photoperiodor cultivar but declined with plant age. The superior growthof cultivar ‘Yaya’ at LD 12·5, 11·5was due to more growth in the first 7 days, while, for cultivar‘Angbadu’ it was a combination of growth for 7 days,and higher MRGR up to 21 days. Stomatal density was greaterat LD 12·5, 11·5 than LD 11·5, 12·5. Corchorus olitorius L., Tossa jute, photoperiodism, relative growth rate     

Causes of Flowering of Long-Day Potato Species under Short-Day and Cold-Night Conditions

Flowering and tuber formation in high-mountain potato species Solanum sparsipilum Bitt., S. acaule Bitt., S. punae Juz., S. demissum Lindl., and a tuber crop Ullucus tuberosus Caldas. were investigated. All these species are characterized by absolute requirement of long day-length for flowering and short day-length for tuberization. Plants were grown under the following conditions: natural day-length with a photoperiod of 17 h or longer (treatment 1), short days with a photoperiod of 12 h and warm nights (15–20°C) (treatment 2), and short days with cold nights (5–6°C) (treatment 3). In the first treatment, plants produced flowers but no tubers. In the second treatment, plants produced tubers but no flowers. In the third treatment, plants produced both flowers and tubers. In leaves of S. acaule and U. tuberosus, the levels of gibberellins and ABA were determined. A high activity of gibberellins in the third treatment was similar to that in the first treatment, whereas high ABA activity in the third treatment was similar to that in the second treatment. It is supposed that cold nights retard the destruction of GA in plants during the dark period of diurnal cycle and ensure a permanently high level of gibberellins, which facilitates flowering of long-day species under short-day conditions. The high level of ABA is considered a plant response to short-day conditions, which is favorable for tuberization.     

Flower formation in vitro in a quantitative short-day tobacco: interrelation between photoperiod and infructescence development

The flowering response of thin layers excised from branch internodes of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Maryland Catterton (quantitative short-day plant for induction) was studied under three photoperiodic treatments. The explants were excised from inflorescences bearing flowers only, flowers and green fruits, or from infructescences with green fruits only. The aim of the study was to investigate the post-inductive photoperiodic effects on in vitro flower bud formation in a quantitative short-day tobacco and the relation with infructescence development. Short days quantitatively enhanced the flower bud regeneration capacities of explants in all stages of development, both as number of explants induced to produce flowers and as mean number of flowers per explant. There was no significant difference in flower bud formation on explants of the first two stages, which produced much more flowers than those of the third stage. Observations in planta showed that, during the 20 days separating the second stage from the first stage, there was no significant difference in the number of floral buds and flowers present on the inflorescence; however, the branch internodes lengthened, as did the floral buds and flowers. During the 10 days leading to the third stage, the number of capsules did not change significantly, but a high rate of floral abscission occurred. The present results show that in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Maryland Catterton short day quantitatively controls not only the inductive step of the flowering process, but also affects the capacity to regenerate flower buds during the late post-inductive phases. The responsiveness to the photoperiodic signal decreases only when the plant exhibits only fruits.     

Induction and floral determination in the terminal bud of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Maryland Mammoth,a short-day plant

Floral determination in the terminal bud of the short-day plant Nicotiana tabacum cv. Maryland Mammoth has been investigated. Plants grown continuously in short days flowered after producing 31.4±1.6 (SD) nodes while plants grown continuously in long days did not flower and produced 172.5±9.5 nodes after one year. At various ages, expressed as number of leaves that were at least 1.0 cm in length above the most basal 10-cm leaf, one of three treatments was performed on plants grown from seed in short days: 1) whole plants were shifted from short days to long days, 2) the terminal bud was removed and then rooted and grown in long days, and 3) the terminal bud was removed and then rooted and grown in short days. Whole plants flowered only when shifted from short days to long days at age 15 or later. Only rooted terminal buds from plants at age 15 or older produced plants that flowered when grown in long days. Only terminal buds from plants at age 15 or older that were rooted and grown in short days produced the same number of nodes as they would have produced in their original locations while buds from younger plants produced more nodes than they would have in their original locations. Thus, determination for floral development in the terminal bud, as assayed by rooting, is simultaneous with the commitment to flowering as assayed by shifting whole plants to non-inductive conditions.Abbreviations LD long day(s) - SD short day(s) - DN dayneutral     

Physiological Controls on the Production of Cleistogamous and Chasmogamous Flowers in Lamium amplexicaule L

Plants of Lamium amplexicaule, grown under short-day field conditionsin Northern California produce predominantly closed flowers.Under long-day field conditions, plants may produce up to 50per cent open flowers, the same total number of flowers beingproduced under each daylength regime. A 20 ml drop of GA₃ or GA₇ (100µM) was applied to themain shoot apex of plants growing under short-day conditions,and all subsequently produced flowers opened. CCC, an inhibitorof gibberellin synthesis, was applied (0.06 per cent) to thesoil of seedlings grown under long-day conditions. The CCC-treatedplants were dwarfed and bore only closed flowers. With GA₇ appliedexogenously to the CCC-treated shoots, inhibition was released,resulting in elongated internodes and open flower production.The timing of flower production and internodal extension inLamium amplexicaule are positively correlated. When floral primordiawere removed from main shoots, the average internode lengthsdecreased. The number of nodes produced in treated plants wasincreased as a result of flower removal. Exogenous GA₇ (10 µM)applied to the nodes from which flowers were removed resultedin internodal extension but had no effect on node number. Twoprocesses that may contribute to the control of the productionof open and closed flowers in Lamium amplexicaule are: (1) anincreasing anther sac size from lower to upper node flowersthat may exert control locally, via GN production, on corollaexpansion, and (2) a photoperiodic control. Lamium amplexicaule L, henbit, cleistogamy, chasmogamy, gibberellins, gibberellic acid (GA₃), (2 chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (cycocel)     

Photoperiodic studies on growth and development of Impatiens balsamina L.

Summary In the short-day plant Impatiens balsamina it was found that, while floral buds are initiated with 3 short-day (SD) cycles, at least 8 such cycles are required for flowering. The numbers of floral buds and open flowers bear a linear relationship with the number of SD cycles. The induced floral buds revert to vegetative growth unless the plants receive the minimum number of SD cycles needed for flowering, this reversion occurring in a basipetal direction. The rate of extension growth of the stem increases with increasing numbers of SD cycles. The high rate is maintained longer in plants receiving 32 or more SD cycles, but the subsequent fall is also steeper in these plants than in plants receiving less inductive cycles. Senescence also occurs in these plants and appears to be related to the magnitude of reproductive development and the high rate of extension growth.     

Significance of timing and number of short-day cycles for initiation and subsequent development of floral buds in Lemna perpusilla 6746

Time courses of the flowering process in Lemna perpusilla 6746,a short-day plant, were studied using selected fronds in relationto the order of emergence. Various numbers of short-day cycleswere interposed during continuous light. The floral buds evokedby short-day cycles developed to a floral stage determined bythe number of short-day cycles 3 days after the transfer toconsecutive long-day cycles, but aborted on the next day, regardlessof the floral stages. At least 2 long-day cycles were requiredfor the abortion of the floral buds at any stage of development.These results suggest the importance of the number of short-daycycles not only for initiation but also for development of floralbuds. (Received February 4, 1977; )     

Promotion and Inhibition of Inflorescence Growth by Long Days in Short-day Plants

Results of previous investigators have indicated that long periodsof light intercalated between inductive short-day cycles havean inhibitory effect on inflorescence growth in short-day plants.The present experiments show that such light periods can eitherpromote or inhibit inflorescence growth in Xanthium pemtsylvanicumand Chenopodium amaranticolor depending on their previous degreeof induction. Intercalated light exerts an inhibitory influence on the inductiveprocesses occurring during the dark period which follows itwhen unifoliate Xanthium plants have been previously exposedto not more than one short day and when fully foliated Chenopodiumplants have been previously exposed to not more than one ortwo short days. When plants are more strongly induced initially,an intercalated light period has a very marked promoting effecton the dark period succeeding it. In Xanthium this stimulatoryeffect increases with the duration of the light period up toan optimum of approximately 80 hours. It is suggested on the basis of available evidence that thepromotive effect of such intercalated light possibly affectsthe sensitivity of the apex to inductive stimuli and that itsinhibitory effect acts on the inductive processes occurringin the leaves.     

Characterization of the Type of Photosynthetic Carbon Dioxide Fixation in Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

Activities of photosynthetic and photorespiratory enzymes viz.,ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylaseand glycolate oxidase from jute (Corchorus olitorius L.; cv.JRO 632) leaves were compared with those from maize (C₄) andsunflower (C₃) leaves. The photosynthetic CO₂ fixation products,the release of ¹⁴CO₂ in light and dark following photosynthesisin ¹⁴CO₂, chlorophyll a: b ratio, gross leaf photosyntheticrate and dry matter production rate were also studied. The resultsshow that jute is a C₃ plant. Key words: Jute, Corchorus olitorius, C₃ photosynthesis     

Factors Controlling Flowering in the Hop (Humulus lupulus L.)

In experiments on the effects of daylength on the growth andflowering of the perennial hop it was shown that Humulus lupulusis a short-day plant. The absolute length of the short day isimportant since very short days (8h) induce dormancy beforeflowering can occur. Light-break treatment may therefore promoteor inhibit flowering according to the associated main photoperiod.A minimum node number must have been differentiated before thehop can be induced to initiate flowers, an effect analogousto the juvenile condition. Minimum leaf number and criticaldaylength for induction depend on variety. At low temperature,induction is possible with longer photoperiods. Promotion offlowers by growth retardants (B9 and CCC) in unfavourable daylengths,and delay of initiation by gibberellic acid treatment were alsoobserved.     

Transition from absolute to quantitative short-day control in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Maryland Mammoth

The response in vitro of thin cell layers, excised from different stem regions of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Maryland Mammoth plants at various developmental stages, was studied under different photoperiodic treatments. The aim was to determine at which stage of plant development, and in which region of the stem, the absolute short-day requirement, indispensable for the induction of the flowering process in this genotype, becomes quantitative and whether it remains short-day. The explants were cultured on a medium suitable for flower neoformation, and were exposed for 30 days to the following treatments: continuous darkness, 8 h light/16 h dark per day, 16 h light/8 h dark per day, and continuous light. The first flowers on explants were observed from plants that were still in the vegetative state, but whose apex showed an accelerated production of axillary vegetative buds, as observed histologically. These explants were excised from the first 10 internodes below the first node with a leaf ≥ 5 cm in length (apical site), and produced flowers only under short-day treatment. When the apical dome initiated the organization of the terminal flower, the apical site explants developed flowers under both short-day and long-day treatments. At the same stage, explants from the 15th to the 20th internode below the first leaf ≥ 5 cm in length also formed flowers, but only under short-day. When the plant showed a complete inflorescence, flowers were also present on explants from the most basal stem internodes and from the inflorescence branches. At this stage, flower neoformation occurred under all treatments; however, under short-day the number of explants showing flowers not associated with vegetative buds on the same sample greatly exceeded that observed under other treatments, as did the mean number of flowers per explant (except the basal regions). In conclusion, in the post-inductive phases of the flowering process, the photoperiodic requirement of this genotype is always short-day. The superficial tissues of the stem require either absolute or quantitative short-day treatment, depending on their position on the stem and the stage of evolution of the flowering process in the terminal apex.     

Promotion of Flowering in Lemna paucicostata 6746 (a Short-Day Duckweed) by Cytokinins

Lemna paucicostata 6746 is a short-day plant and flowers inresponse to a single photoinductive cycle. Flowering in thisduckweed could be promoted, under short days, in the presenceof a cytokinin in the nutrient medium. 6-Benzyladenine (BA)was the most effective for promotion of flowering, followedby zeatin and kinetin. Since EDTA itself is promotive for floweringin this plant, the cytokinin effect is best observed in mediumdevoid of EDTA. Nevertheless, in their combined presence floweringwas more as compared to when either of these was individuallypresent. This additive effect on flowering was especially prominentwhen the plants were kept in near-critical photoperiods. Besidesthe increase in percentage of the flowering fronds, floweringis also sustained a little longer in the cytokinin-treated plants.BA, however, did not alter the critical dark period requirement,either in the presence or absence of EDTA. (Received March 26, 1983; Accepted May 6, 1983)     

Self pollination and resource availability affect ovule abortion inCassia fasciculata (Caesalpiniaceae)

We examined the effects of pollen source and resource availability on ovule abortion in the annual legumeCassia fasciculata. Pollen source was controlled by hand-pollinating flowers with cross- or self-pollen. Resource availability to developing fruits was controlled by adjusting fruit loads (heavy versus light) on each plant and exposing plants to different photoperiod cycles (16 vs 12 h of light; short days favor fruit growth at the expense of vegetative growth). In mature fruits the proportion of ovules expanding (showing some development over virgin ovules) ranged from 89–95% and did not increase with resource availability, suggesting that unexpanded ovules were either unfertilized or obligately aborted shortly after fertilization. The proportion of expanded ovules maturing in mature fruits was near 97% for both self- and crosspollinations in the treatment with highest resource availability (light load, short days) and lower in the remaining treatments, where self-pollination resulted in up to 9% lower seed maturation than cross-pollination. In the latter three treatments a pollen source effect was dependent upon the maternal plant; in some plants selfing increased abortion and in others it did not. Collectively, the results suggest that (1) both pollen source and resource availability affect ovule abortion, (2) at least some abortion is facultative, and (3) when resources are limited, self-pollination increases abortion in some but not all maternal plants.     

Radiation induced crinkled leaves in jute

Crinkled leaf chimeras appeared regularly, as phenocopies, in the X₁ and P₁ generations of three varieties ofCorchorus olitorius L. The S₁ populations were devoid of this abnormality. These plants were also characterized by late flowering and reduction in the number of flowers per plant. The frequency of crinkled leaf chimeras increased with increase in dosages of X-rays and³²P beta rays. Inheritance studies revealed no immediate genetic background of these abnormal plants. However, mutations showing crinkled leaves were isolated in some X₃ and P₂ lines and their segregation in later generations was found to be disturbed. Chromosomal abnormalities during meiosis were considered as one of the factors responsible for the disturbed segregation. Crinkled leaf mutations also showed variable manifestation of the mutant characteristic in different years.     

Studies on the Photoperiodic Responses in Short-Day Plant Helianthus tubevotus

Plants of Helianthus tuberosus, variety white tuber, were treated with various daylengths of 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 h. for 25 days as soon as six leaves on a plant appeard Irradiation for 6–13 h per day induced the plants to form flower buds and flowering, daylength with 14 h or longer kept the plants in vegetative growth. The experiments showed that this variety of Helianthus tuberosus required short days for flowering and the critical daylength was about 13 h. The plants were treated with short days for different durations. At least 17 days were required, Formation of flower buds and flowering had positive correlation with the number of short days over 17 days. After short-day induction, the shorter the daylength is, the more the flower buds inverted. Long-day treatment after an appropriate period of short days wouid reduce the number of flower and induce new vegetative branches from flowering granehes.     

Influence of Parasitism by Pilostyles ingae (Rafflesiaceae) on its Host Plant, Mimosa naguirei (Leguminosae)

Mimosa naguirei (Leguminosae) is parasitized by Pilostyles ingae(Rafflesiaceae) in the Serra do Cipó, in southeasternBrazil. The study examined the influence of this parasite onvarious parameters of M. naguirei in an attempt to establishgeneral patterns for future research. It was found that thepercentage of parasitized plants varied along an altitudinalgradient of 500 m. The parasitic plant influenced the architectureof the host plant. The number of branches on parasitized plantswas significantly greater than the number of branches on non-parasitizedplants. Branches of parasitized plants were significantly shorterthan branches on non-parasitized plants. The density of P. ingaeflowers decreased from the stem base to apex. The number offruits produced by parasitized plants was not greater than thenumber of fruits produced by non-parasitized plants, althoughparasitized plants produced smaller fruits and lighter seeds.Seed germination did not differ significantly between parasitizedand healthy plants.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Holoparasite, Leguminosae, Mimosa naguirei, plant parasitism, Pilostyles ingae, Rafflesiaceae     

Photoperiod and Temperature Effects on Late Developmental Stages of Stylosanthes guianensis

Seedlings of Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis cv. Cookand S. guianensis var. pauciflora cv. Bandeirante were defoliatedand placed in a naturally lit glasshouse at 23/18 °C, 28/23°C or 33/28 °C (day/night). After exposure to 14 h daysand after floral induction with 30 cycles of 11 h, plants wereallocated to 11, 12, 13 or 14 h during flowering and seed formation. Floral initiation occurred after 10–15 short-day cycles.Flower appearance was hastened by warm temperatures and spikenumber per plant at 20 d after flower appearance was negativelyrelated to temperature and greater in Cook than in Bandeirante.Exposure to 13- and 14-h days reduced the continued differentiationof inflorescences in Bandeirante, and in Cook in warm temperatures.Floret number per spike was greatest at 23/18 °C and a higherproportion of florets aborted in Bandeirante at 33/ 28 °C.Variations in seed setting of the bi-articulate loment of Bandeiranteare described. Highest potential seed yield occurred if afterfloral induction 11 or 12 h days were maintained with 23/18°C or 28/23 °C temperatures. Photoperiod, temperature, development, Stylosanthes guianensis, flowering     

Kinetics Studies on the Photoinduction of Xanthium strumarium L. and Isolation of a Flower Primordia Growth-Regulating Fractionl

The kinetics of flower primordia formation have been re-examinedin photoinduced Xanthium strumarium L. to determine the numberof short-day treatments that promote optimum primordia initiationand development. Plants given 4 short-day cycles showed thehighest rate of primordia development. Attempts were made toisolate flower-promoting substance(s) from the young leavesof such optimally induced plants by methanol extraction followedby ether fractionation. A Xanthium bioassay was developed fortesting the flower-promoting activity of aqueous concentratesobtained from the acidic, neutral-basic and total ether extracts.No flower-primordia inducing activity was found in any of thefractions, but growth-accelerating activity on young primordiawas shown by substance(s) present in the combined neutral-basicfraction isolated from photoinduced leaves. ¹C.R.D.A. Contribution No. 170. (Received June 14, 1989; Accepted September 20, 1989)