Gibberellin substitution for the high night temperatures required for the long-day promotion of flowering in Gypsophila paniculata L.

Gibberellic acid (GA) promoted flowering of Gypsophila paniculata plants grown under long-day (LD) conditions at low night temperatures, which otherwise prevented the realization of the LD induction. GA did not induce flower formation of plants grown in short-days (SD), either under low winter temperatures or at the relatively high night temperatures of spring and summer, which allow flowering under LD. GA had only a marginal promotive influence under fully inductive conditions of LD and high temperatures. Thus, in gypsophila, GA substitutes for the high night temperature which is required as a background for the photoperiodic induction, but not for the long photoperiod itself.     

Promotion of flowering by photoperiodic lighting in winter-grown gladiolus planted at high densities

Gladiolus plants were grown in winter and early spring at several densities, under natural day, or long day (LD) regimes, with low intensity light at night. LD treatment promoted flowering-percentage (by reducing “blindness”), and enhanced flower quality features, (length of stem and spike, and number of florets per spike). The effect was observed even at planting-densities of 2–3 times the normal winter density. Lighting for 1 hour at mid-night was effective, but the greatest effect was observed by lighting throughout the night. Most of the promotive effects were obtained by lighting for 4 hours as day extension or as night break, and this treatment was recommended for commercial use. Cyclic lighting of 5 minutes of light and 10 minutes of dark was as effective as continuous light for 4 hours, and light intensity of 35 lux was as effective as 130 lux.All cultivars of gladiolus grandiflorus tested responded to the LD treatment, but the miniature cultivar ‘Charm’ did not. The LD effect was especially pronounced under conditions when the normal flowering was defective, such as with high-density plantings, low temperatures and with summer cultivars.     

Environmental and chemical control of growth and flowering of Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer

The main factor affecting floral initiation of Geraldton Wax-Flower (Chamelaucium uncinatum) is the photoperiod, while temperature is the major factor affecting flower development. Four weeks of short days (SD) are generally required for obtaining full flowering. The number of flowers produced per plant increases with increasing the number of SD. Under mild temperatures of $\text{20}\text{14°}\text{C}$ (day/night), plants initiated flowers even in long days (LD). However, fewer flowers were produced and on higher nodes as compared to SD plants. Chlormequat promoted flowering under prevailing summer conditions of high temperatures and LD. Under prevailing autumn conditions favourable for flower initiation, LD treatment or weekly sprays with gibberellic acid (GA) reduced the number of flowers per plant. Combined treatment of LD and GA reduced both the flowering percentage and the number of flowers per plant. Discontinuing the LD or the GA treatments caused a resumption of full flower initiation.     

Flowering ability of commercial Calibrachoa cultivars as compared to that of natural species

To evaluate and describe the current status of Calibrachoa cultivars as bedding plants, the seasonal flowering of 91 commercial cultivars were compared to those of natural species using principal components analysis. The predominant flowering of the cultivars, that is, floriferous in late spring to early summer with a tendency to reduce flower production toward winter, seems to have remained unchanged from that of natural species. However, properties desired in bedding plants, such as early flowering and continuous flowering under short-day and/or low temperature conditions, appear to have been improved in a considerable number of cultivars, although there is still room for improvement. Seasonal and total floral counts were higher in many cultivars compared to natural species. Several natural species were selected for their unique flowering ability and should be evaluated as gene resources for improving the flowering of Calibrachoa cultivars.     

Studies on the induction of flowering in juvenile Prunus avium L.

Juvenile Prunus avium shoot apices produced flowering shoots after grafting to mature trees irrespective of treatment of the apices in the season before grafting with G A or G A + cytokinin. Scions grown from mature shoot apices grafted to seedling stocks failed to flower, again irrespective of prior hormone treatment. Similar treatment of mature shoot apices with these hormones, or with zeatin, inhibited concurrent floral initiation, but G A or GA + zeatin treatments increased flowering of scions grown from the treated apices after grafting to untreated mature trees. Localized shoot tip or root drench treatment of one or two year old seedlings with (2RS, 3RS)-paclobutrazol failed to induce flowering, but treatment of three or four year old plants did stimulate flowering. Branch or stem girdling or root flooding applied alone or in combination to three year old plants did not affect flowering. Floral initiation by three or four year old plants was inhibited by treatment with GAs. The results were consistent with the presence in seedlings of a root- produced, xylem transported, graft-transmissible inhibitor(s), which control the initiation of otherwise competent meristems, and which could include factors other than GAs. Juvenile meristem competence to flower was not affected by prior GA treatment.     

Diversity in environmental controls of flowering in Australian plants

In adapting their flowering to a particular season of the year, plants utilize a number of environmental inputs. Knowledge of these environmental controls of flowering is important for production in commercial horticulture. Such information is also relevant for assessing whether or not a species is threatened by global warming. Here, for five Australian plant species, we document ways in which the environment regulates their flowering. Spring flowering of Croweaexalata ‘Bindelong Compact’ reflects a response to increased daily light integral, these plants showing no hint of a true long day photoperiodic response. Higher temperatures not only cause earlier flowering of this Crowea cultivar but also depress flower production (5% loss per 1 °C increase). By contrast, another Crowea, ‘White Star’, flowers only if exposed to cool temperatures (15 °C) at the time of the increase in daily light integral. Thus, in commercial horticulture, synchronous and rapid flowering of Crowea will be possible by shifting plants from shade to high light conditions. In nature, light intensity will also have a major impact on flowering. By contrast, best flowering of Lechenaultia formosa in spring is a response to short photoperiods at high temperature while L. biloba prefers long days and has potentially spring to summer flowering. Whereas rising summer temperatures could have a deleterious effect on flowering of C.exalata, global warming may have little impact on L. formosa and L. biloba which flower more profusely in warmer conditions. Another spring flowering species, Verticordia chrysantha, responds both to short days and to exposure to cool temperatures so its survival could be threatened by global warming. For Calytrix fraseri its late summer flowering in nature is explained by its requirement for an exposure to long days. When combined with information previously published for Australian plants, it is clear that there are no simple generalizations to explain why a plant species flowers when it does.     

Improvement of flower color by means of leaf treatments in lily

Flower color, an important feature biologically and commercially, is based on four natural pigments – flavonoids, carotenoids, betalains and chlorophylls. Temperature, light, nutrition – as well as additions of sugar, salt, or metals to the conservation water – have an effect on pigmentation. We investigated the effects of K-sulphate and/or sucrose on flower color in leaf treatments applied 30–10 days before harvest to four Asiatic lily (Lilium × elegans Thunb.) cultivars during the winter and summer. Colors of tepals were evaluated by a portable spectrocolorimeter that calculates the standard CIE L*a*b* coordinates and the color differences (E). After leaf treatments during both seasons, cultivars with flowers with high red components (e.g. the purple ‘Fangio’ and the pink ‘Brindisi’) showed significant improvements in color quality. The orange-flowered ‘Tresor’ showed improvement only if K-sulphate and Mix (K-sulphate and sucrose) solution treatments were applied during the summer. The yellow-flowered ‘Menorca’ was not affected by treatments during either summer or winter forcing season. Especially in the winter, a significant reduction in flower abortion was observed for cut flowers of all cultivars. In summer only ‘Fangio’ and ‘Tresor’ showed a reduction in flower abortion. Also, flower size and longevity were improved by the leaf treatment. The results, obtained from a commercial nursery operation, demonstrate that lily growers can adopt a very simple and inexpensive treatment to improve important qualitative traits of their product.     

Effect of Time of Application of Fertilizer Nitrogen on the Growth,Flower Development and Fruit Set of Maiden Apple Trees,Var. Lord Lambourne,and on the Distribution of Total Nitrogen Within the Trees

Fertilizer nitrogen was applied to pot-grown trees during the year of initial scion growth either as “spring N”, “summer N” or “autumn N”, while other trees were left untreated—“minus N”. Tree performance was followed until fruit set the following summer.

At regular intervals whole trees were sampled, divided into as many as seven different parts, which were separately weighed, dried and analysed for total nitrogen. Specimens were also taken for histological examination of flower bud development.

The large amount of fertilizer given as “spring N” resulted in extensive root damage from which the trees did not recover fully; nevertheless they produced large, vigorous scions. After “spring N” and “summer N” at lower dosages the total N content of all parts increased substantially and rapidly. “Autumn N” was absorbed more slowly and remained largely in the roots during the winter, when a considerable amount of root growth took place.

Flowers were initiated in late July or early August on all trees except those given “spring N”, on which flower primordia were not initiated until September. The development of flower buds was accelerated during September on “summer N” trees compared with those left untreated. From the end of November until the end of March no further differentiation took place on “minus N” or “spring N” trees, but it continued on the other treatments, especially following “autumn N”.

“Summer N” and “autumn N” trees were 4–5 days in advance of the others in flowering. “Summer N” trees had large flowers and large green primary leaves, whereas those on “autumn N” trees were smaller and the leaves were initially pale, though turning dark green during blossoming.

When the blossoms were self-pollinated under controlled conditions virtually no fruit was set on “minus N” and “spring N” trees, but “summer N” gave an appreciable set and “autumn N” a heavy set. Only the “summer N” and ”autumn N” flowers had ovules that remained viable six days after anthesis, which was the minimum period found necessary for the pollen tubes to effect fertilization.

It is suggested that fertilizer nitrogen stimulates the synthesis of a kinin-like factor in the roots and that the difference in response to applications at different times of year depends upon the stage of development of the flower buds when this factor reaches them.     

Deferring flowering of nobile dendrobium hybrids by holding plants under low temperature after vernalization

Orchids are currently the most valuable potted crop in the United States. To date, no studies focused on making possible the year-round greenhouse production of flowering nobile dendrobium orchids. This experiment was aimed at developing a strategy to defer flowering of nobile dendrobium orchids by holding them under low temperature. Mature Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’ and Den. Sea Mary ‘Snow King’ were held at 10 °C for various durations (0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks) after vernalization (4 weeks at 10 °C). Plants were forced in a greenhouse after holding. Time to flower, flower differentiation (flowering node percentage, number of aerial shoot and aborted bud) and flower quality (total flower number, flower diameter, flower number per flowering node and flower longevity) were determined. Increase of low temperature holding duration from 0 to 16 weeks extended time to flower up to 3 months and did not affect parameters of flower except producing larger flowers and reducing flower number per flowering node for Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’. Notably, the flower longevity was not adversely affected. Defoliation was aggravated in Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’ by longer duration of cooling and was considered a detrimental effect of low temperature holding.     

Environmental factors affecting flowering of rice flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius,Vent.)

Rice flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Vent.), native to east Australia, is a spring flowering perennial shrub. It is a new cut flower plant, recently introduced into cultivation in Australia and in Israel. Its response to environmental conditions, which affect growth and flowering, are not yet known. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of growth temperature, photoperiod and total solar energy on flowering. Experiments were conducted with plants of the cv. Cook’s Snow White. Plants were grown in three cycles under controlled conditions in the phytotron, at four day/night temperature regimes: 17/9, 20/12, 23/15 and 26/18°C. Two photoperiods — short day (SD) of 10 h natural day light and long day (LD) of 10 h natural light plus 10 h incandescent light — were employed. High temperatures enhanced vegetative growth but blocked flowering under both LD and SD. Under medium–moderate temperatures plants were absolute LD plants and did not flower under SD conditions. Under lower temperatures plants flowered under both LD and SD, but SD delayed flowering. High total solar radiation under LD did not affect flowering time but greatly promoted the number of flowering stems.     

外源赤霉素对青花菜茎尖内源激素含量的影响

以不同浓度赤霉素（GA）分别在青花菜花芽分化前20 d（播后40 d）和花芽分化后10 d（播后70 d）叶面各喷施1次,研究外源GA对青花菜茎尖内源激素含量的影响。结果表明,青花菜生长发育过程与植株内源激素含量变化密切相关,在花芽分化期茎尖IAA、GA1/3含量保持较低的水平和适宜的iPAs含量有利于花芽分化,而在现蕾期保持适宜水平的IAA、GA1/3含量及较低水平的iPAs含量则有利于花球的形成。外源GA明显地影响了青花菜茎尖内源激素的平衡,GA处理在花芽分化期和现蕾期均抑制了茎尖IAA合成,降低了茎尖IAA含量;较低浓度的GA处理在花芽分化期可增加茎尖GA1/3含量,浓度升高反而降低其含量,但在现蕾期正好相反;GA处理在花芽分化期促进了iPAs含量的升高,而且浓度越高iPAs含量也越高,但在现蕾期低浓度GA处理可提高茎尖iPAs含量,而浓度过高反而导致iPAs含量下降。     

Cultivation of cut flower and bulb species with saline water

The long-term effect of saline water irrigation on flower yield and quality was investigated in three herbaceous cut flower crops of commercial importance, the Emily cultivars of Japanese limonium, Trachelium caeruleum and Eustoma grandiflorum (lisianthus), and in two bulb species, Hippeastrum hybridum and Ornithogalum arabicum. Among the tested crops, limonium showed the highest resistance to salinity. Irrigation water with an electrical conductivity of up to 11.5 dS m⁻¹ had little or no effect on stem yield and length of limonium flowering stems. In Trachelium, salinity had no effect on the yield of flowering stems or the size of the inflorescence, but it markedly reduced stem weight and length. The concomitant reduction in the number of nodes to flowering was reflected in earlier flower initiation. Since delayed flower differentiation and over-elongation of Trachelium stems is a serious problem during the winter months, application of mildly saline irrigation for winter production could be used to induce earlier flower initiation and to control stem height. In lisianthus subjected to salinity from bud appearance onwards, a salinity level of 6.0 dS m⁻¹ increased stem weight and the number of flowers per stem without affecting other quality parameters. The work carried out with Trachelium and lisianthus, although limited, indicates that salinity may be used for improving the quality of some cut flowers. In contrast to its beneficial effect on the herbaceous species, salinity led to a significant reduction of bulb, leaf, and root weight of the two bulbous species, H. hybridum and O. arabicum.     

The Effect of Cold Storage and Treatment with Gibberellic Acid on Flowering and Bulb Yields of Dutch Iris

Iris bulbs of the varieties Wedgewood and Prof. Blaauvv were injected with 50 or 500 μg. gibberellic acid (GA) before or after cold storage (10° C.) of 18 or 35 days. GA injection accelerated flowering by up to 19 days ; it had little or no effect on length of leaves or flower stem. It was most effective when applied at an early stage after flower initiation.

GA injection reduced bulb yield of Wedgiwood plants, and had no effect on, nor increased bulb yield of, Prof. Blaauw plants.

GA spraying (seven times at 10^-2M of GA) accelerated flowering and increased foliage growth in both varieties. It increased flower stem elongation and reduced bulb yield in Wedgfcwood plants.     

The influence of irrigation system and nutrient solution concentration on potted geranium production under various conditions of radiation and temperature

Zonal geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum ‘Real Mintaka’) were grown in closed soilless systems to evaluate the effects of irrigation system (drip and subirrigation) and nutrient solution concentration (half and full) under various conditions of radiation and temperature (winter and summer) in terms of substrate electrical conductivity (EC_s), growth, quality, crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) and growth index water use efficiency (WUE_GI) and nutrient uptake. At he end of the cultural cycle the highest EC_s in the upper and lower layers were recorded in the spring season on plants grown in subirrigation using a full nutrient solution concentration. The highest shoot biomass, leaf area, plant growth index, and quality index were recorded in the winter season on plants grown in both drip-irrigation and subirrigation using half and full nutrient solution concentration, whereas the lowest value was observed in the spring season on plants grown with subirrigation using the full nutrient solution concentration. The highest maximum air temperature recorded during the first 20 days after transplanting in the spring growing season was presumably responsible for the reduction in shoot biomass production, growth and quality index, and in time of geranium flowering compared to the plants grown in the winter season. The ET_c was 44% higher in spring than in winter season treatment, while the effect of the irrigation system was less pronounced with an increase in 11% in the subirrigation treatment compared with the drip-irrigation system. WUE_GI was not stable and showed a seasonal variability. Solar radiaton (R_s), air temperature (T_a) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) were greatly higher in the spring season, which influenced WUE_GI negatively. The WUE_GI improved especially when R_s, T_a and VPD were below 12 MJ m², 20 °C and 0.6 kPa, respectively. The highest N, and Mg uptake were recorded in the winter season, especially on plants grown with subirrigation at 2 dS m⁻¹. The highest P, K, and Ca uptake values were measured during winter season using subirrigation system, and on plants grown under full strength nutrient solution. The variation of the nitrate concentration and EC in the nutrient solution during the spring growing cycle was less pronounced in the subirrigation than with a drip-irrigation system which represents an important aspect for the simplification of the closed loop management of the nutrient solution.     

The response of bud break and flowering to cool winter temperatures in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Summary

A range of temperatures (7°C, 10°C or 13°C mean) were imposed under controlled conditions on four year old, container-grown ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines. The treatments were applied for periods of from one to four months during the dormant period from May to September (Southern Hemisphere). Following these treatments the vines were held at a “forcing” temperature of 16°C mean until flowering. The objective was to define the response of bud break and flowering in spring to temperatures experienced during the preceding winter. Cool winter temperatures dramatically increased flower numbers, increased the proportion of bud break, advanced the day of bud break, and increased the duration from bud break to flowering. These responses were much larger between 13°C and 10°C than they were between 10°C and 7°C. For any treatment duration, the temperature imposed during dormancy had no effect on the time of flowering. Two months at cool temperatures produced the greatest number of flowers per winter bud, with reduced numbers at three and four months. The proportion of winter buds that produced shoots showed a similar response. The Richardson chill unit is frequently used to describe the effects of winter chilling on kiwifruit. It proved unreliable as an index to integrate the effects of temperature and time on any of the developmental variables monitored in this experiment.     

不同蘸花剂对黄瓜果实生长及品质的影响

针对黄瓜生产中使用避孕药保持鲜花和乱用激素蘸花的争论,选取不同浓度的避孕药(醋酸甲地孕酮)和5种激素对黄瓜进行蘸花处理。结果表明:醋酸甲地孕酮对黄瓜鲜花保持及果实膨大没有作用;2,4-D能延迟黄瓜开花,保持黄瓜鲜花不败;用100mg·L~(-1)的赤霉素溶液蘸花,能促进黄瓜果实膨大;萘乙酸蘸花处理的黄瓜会出现花冠不完全展开的现象,但不能长时间保持鲜花;防落素和氯吡脲处理对黄瓜坐瓜和果实膨大都有促进作用。适宜浓度的激素处理对促进黄瓜果实生长的影响为氯吡脲防落素2,4-D萘乙酸赤霉素清水(CK)。其中10mg·L~(-1)氯吡脲蘸花处理对黄瓜果实生长的促进效果最明显,且激素残留量检测符合欧盟标准0.01mg·kg~(-1)。     

Flower and corm development in gladiolus as affected by photoperiod

Gladiolus plants cultivar ‘Spick and Span’ were grown in winter under natural short day (SD) or under long day (LD), with 4 hours low intensity light at midnight. Growth of the various organs was followed by periodic sampling. SD promoted flower development and advanced anthesis but reduced the final size of the flower. LD increased weight and size of leaves and flowers.Initial growth of the corm was similar under both photoperiods, but while corm growth continued throughout the growing-period under SD, it was checked under LD when flowers were developed at an enhanced rate and until anthesis. At this stage, the allocation of assimilates was directed towards the flower sink and away from the corm sink.Final corm weight was also promoted by LD. This is interpreted as an indirect effect due to increased photosynthesis of the larger LD plants. In non-flowering plants raised from cormels, SD specifically promoted corm growth, although no competing flower sink was present.It is concluded that photoperiod affects growth and development of gladiolus in two ways: directly — by affecting the partitioning of assimilates between the flower or the corm; and indirectly — by affecting the total photosynthates available to the plants by influencing foliage size and the total growth period.     

Chemical “pinching” of pot chrysanthemums with 2,3-dihydro-5,6-diphenyl-1,4-oxathiin

In summer and winter experiments a research formulation of 2,3-dihydro-5,6-diphenyl-1,4-oxathiin (code name UBI-P293) was effective as a chemical “pinching”-agent on pot chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Bright Golden Anne’, when applied at 0.4 and 0.8% active ingredient to the apical region of plants within a few days of planting. A lower concentration was not so effective. When the applications were made later, they induced considerable variation in the length and quality of lateral shoots and also delayed flowering. The compound did not always prevent the development of the terminal bud, but reduced apical dominance sufficiently to permit the lateral shoots to develop normally. When P293 successfully “pinched” the plants in the winter experiment, it had no effect on the length of the lateral shoots which developed. At flowering these were too long from a commercial grower's point of view. In the summer experiment shoot length was adequately reduced by application of a foliar spray of a new quaternary ammonium growth retardant when the lateral shoots were a few centimetres long.     

赤霉素对露地栽培月季‘卡罗拉’生长发育的影响

通过喷施不同浓度的GA_3(以喷水为对照),记录初花和谢花日期,于盛花期时调查花枝长、花柄长、株高及叶片长宽比等生长指标,研究赤霉素处理对露地栽培切花月季‘卡罗拉’生长发育的影响。结果表明,不同浓度GA_3处理对其株高、花枝长、花柄长均具有不同程度的促进作用。300 mg·L~(-1) GA_3处理,平均花枝最长,叶片长宽比值最大;300和400 mg·L~(-1) GA_3处理,平均花柄最长;500 mg·L~(-1) GA_3处理,平均株高最高。对300 mg·L~(-1) GA_3处理的植株材料进行扫描电镜观察及RT-PCR分析结果发现,RhGA2ox、RhGA20ox、RhGA_3ox及RhGID1基因表达上调,表明促进了体内GA_3的积累,诱导了生长素合成相关基因的表达,导致植物细胞伸长、细胞体积增大,因而促进植株增高、叶片变长;开花相关基因RhAP1、RhKSN和RhSOC1的表达先上升后下降;RhAP1、RhFT和RhSOC1的表达,尤其是开花素基因RhFT在21 d时的高水平表达可能造成比对照提早开花;而RhKSN基因高水平表达抑制了开花基因表达导致开花期延长。     

Flower formation in Calceolaria × herbeohybrida Voss

At high light intensity Calceolaria × herbeohybrida ‘Zwerg Meisterstück’ is a long-day plant with a critical day-length of 14–15 h. At low light intensity (e.g. as in winter) flowering will take place if the long-day treatment is preceded by a chilling period (10°C) or by short days at 15–20°C. During the chilling period day-length is of little influence. With increasing duration of the chilling period the requirement for long days decreases and the critical day-length becomes shorter. After a sufficient chilling period, flowering occurs both in long and short days. If the chilling period lasts approx. 40 days, however, flowering in short days is delayed, phyllody occurs and only a small number of flowers develop in comparison to long days. After at least 70–75 days of chilling plants show almost the same reaction in short and long days. Plants not chilled under conditions of high light intensity and short days flower either in naturally long days or by day extension with incandescent light. After chilling, fluorescent light of the type L 39 is also effective for day extension. A night break with incandescent light in a 16-h dark period induces flowering only after a chilling period. Incandescent but not fluorescent light causes a slight yellowing and more upright position of the leaves and an elongation of the internodes.