In Vitro Studies of Floral Induction on Stem Apices of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. --A Short-day Plant

Stem tips of Cuscuta reflexa, cultured on modified White's medium,were subjected to different light and dark conditions. The culturesflowered when maintained either in continuous darkness or exposedto 14 hours of daily dark period. Thus Cuscuta reflexa behavesas a typically short-day plant. The presence of 5 per cent.sucrose in the medium completely obviates the requirement forhigh-intensity light exposures, otherwise essential for SDP.It appears that the bud itself is sensitive to photoinduction.In spite of the presence of natural tissue-bridge between thehost and the parasite, provided by the haustorial connexions,there is no transportation of flower-forming substance fromone plant to another. The flowering periods of host and parasiteare independent of each other.