Effects of diurnal and bidiurnal photoperiodic treatments on mitosis in Pharbitis

Abstract

Photoperiodic effect on mitotic activity of buds from dwarf Pharbitis has been analyzed. No significant differences in mitotic activity were found in plants grown under long days or diurnal (24 h) light break photoperiodic treatments. Differences in both mitotic activity and flowering were seen in plants subjected to diurnal short days, bidiurnal (48 h) short days, or bidiurnal short days with light breaks. An elevation of mitotic activity occurs in plants grown in bidiurnal photoperiodic treatments compared to diurnal treatments. The differences in mitotic activity of buds, both vegetative and floral, seem to indicate that both phytochrome and light effect on an endogenous rhythm influence meristematic activity. Also, the extended dark period of a bidiurnal short day enhances both mitosis and flowering.