Role of Adenosine 3'5'-Cyclic Monophosphate in Flowering of a Short-Day Duckweed Lemna paucicostata 6746

The well-known second messenger in animal systems, adenosine3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), stimulated flowering in theshort-day plant, Lemna paucicostata 6746, under both inductiveand non-inductive photoperiods, when grown on modified Bonnerand Devirian medium. Flowering could be achieved even in continuouslight in the presence of cAMP, although the intensity of theresponse was still daylength-dependent. Besides flower induction,cAMP also enhanced their development. 5'-AMP and 5'-ATP alsoinduced some flowering under non-inductive long days, but theresponse was weak as compared to that of cAMP. 5'-ADP, in contrast,had no effect whatsoever on flowering under long days, whereasa small effect was observed under inductive short days. Whatcould be the probable mechanism of action of cAMP and whetherits effect on flowering is mediated through the cAMP-adenylcyclasesystem, has been discussed. (Received May 11, 1988; Accepted June 23, 1988)