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.     

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.     

Effect of photoperiod and light integral on flowering and growth of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of different photoperiod and light integral on floral initiation, development and subsequent growth of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn. Six-weeks-old seedlings of ‘Echo Blue’ and ‘Fuji Deep Blue’ were placed under short day (SD, 10 h) and were transferred to long days (LD, 20 h) at 2-week intervals from 6 to 14 weeks after seeding. Plants initiated flower buds regardless of light regimes. Flower bud initiation was delayed by SD compared to LD; plants transferred after 6 weeks from seeding initiated flower buds at least 21 and 10 days earlier at LD at high (HL) and low (LL) daily light integral, respectively, compared to those at SD. Light regimes had little or no effect on time to flower bud development after initiation. Thus, it seems likely that LD and HL affected the initiation rather than development. Both the photoperiod and light integral strongly influenced the subsequent growth after initiation. SD delayed the time to visible bud (VB), increased the number of nodes to first open flower, number of branches, stem diameter and shoot dry weight compared to LD. HL promoted flowering and increased several shoot characteristics and flowering compared to LL.The results indicate that Eustoma is a quantitative long-day plant. LD, and more specifically HL, enhanced flower bud initiation, development and subsequent growth. An initial SD period is preferred to increase the number of branches, number of flowering buds and flowers, stem diameter and shoot dry weight.     

The responses of early-flowering chrysanthemums to daylength

In a study of photoperiod response 30 early (summer)-flowering chrysanthemum cultivars from Britain and Japan reacted as quantitative short-day plants. Both flower bud initiation and development occurred more rapidly in short days (SD) as compared with long days (LD). The early-flowering cultivars differed from late-flowering chrysanthemums in that lateral flower buds, and often the terminal flower buds, develop to anthesis in LD. Internodes were shorter in SD and flowers had fewer florets. There was an increased number and proportion of disc florets in SD in all cultivars except one. Two cultivars, ‘Mezame’ and ‘Pennine Yellow’, closely approached day-neutrality.All cultivars produced fewer leaves in LD on upper lateral shoots than on main stems. Either the presence of the terminal flower bud induces earlier flowering of the upper lateral shoots, or the change which causes the terminal apical meristem to initiate a flower in LD influences the axillary meristem also.SD could be used to speed up the flowering of glasshouse-grown crops of early-flowering cultivars. The advantages and disadvantages which may be associated with treatment at different stages of growth are discussed.     

Promotion of Globularia sarcophylla flowering by Uniconazol,an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis

Globularia sarcophylla, originating from the Canary Islands, was recently introduced as a new cut flower in Israel. Two major problems have prevented its commercialization: the late-summer blooming and the low quality of its flowering shoots. In the present work we studied the factors affecting G. sarcophylla flowering. We found that long-day (LD) conditions slightly promote flowering but artificial photoperiodic illumination does not enable the manipulation of flowering time. On the other hand, treatment with the gibberellin (GA)-biosynthesis inhibitor, Uniconazol, had a dramatic promotive effect on flowering time. Application of Uniconazol in autumn or winter induced flowering in winter or early spring, respectively. The inhibitor did not advance flowering during the summer or in the phytotron under high temperatures. When plants were grown in the spring/summer under heavy shading, they did not flower unless they were treated with Uniconazol. Uniconazol treatment also improved flower quality by reducing the length of inflorescence pedicles. This effect was found in all seasons. Based on our results, we raise the hypothesis that Uniconazol treatment induces flowering by diverting assimilates to the apex. Inhibition of GA biosynthesis under conditions limiting photosynthetic activity reduces vegetative growth and increases the availability of assimilates to the apex, leading to flower initiation. However, under high irradiance and/or high temperatures, when the levels of assimilates are sufficient to induce natural flowering, the inhibitor has no further effect.     

Abortion of reproductive organs in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): a review

Summary

Levels of abortion of reproductive organs (i.e., buds, flowers, and young fruits) in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) are high, and cyclical fluctuations occur in fruit set. Stages susceptible to abortion are very young buds (< 2.5 mm), buds close to anthesis, and flowers and fruits up to 14 d after anthesis. An overview of factors and processes involved in flower and fruit abortion in sweet peppers is presented. More light, higher CO₂ concentrations, and lower planting density, increase the availability of assimilates per plant, and decrease fruit abortion. The cyclical pattern in fruit set is caused by changes in demand for assimilates. High flower abortion occurs when fast growing fruit (at approx. 3 weeks after anthesis) are present, due to competition for assimilates. Fruit set increases when fast growing fruit are almost mature and have a low assimilate demand. Prior to abortion, auxin export from the reproductive organ diminishes, ethylene production increases, and lower levels of activity of sucrose-cleaving enzymes are found. Severe water stress and low nutrient supply also increase abortion levels. Low night- and high day-time temperatures hamper pollen development, causing low seed set, which can result in fruit abortion. Two theories have been used to explain abortion: unbalanced demand for and supply of assimilates, and hormonal dominance of developing fruit over young fruit. Attempts to prevent abortion or to diminish the cyclical pattern of fruit set have not yet been successful, but new suggestions are presented.     

An analysis of the growth of forced tulips. 2. Effects of low-temperature treatments during development on plant structure at anthesis

The effects of different periods of storage at low temperature on some plant parameters were examined at anthesis. The duration of the low-temperature storage affected the time taken for plants to reach anthesis, the stem lengths and shoot dry weights. However, flower size and dry weight scarcely altered with the duration of treatment.Despite large differences in the dry weights of the plant components at anthesis following different periods of low-temperature storage, the ratio of total plant dry weight at anthesis to the initial bulb dry weight at the commencement of treatment remained almost constant. Anthesis occurred in all treatments when the total plant dry weight fell to 70% of the original bulb mass.It is possible to relate flower quality to the fresh to dry weight ratio of the flower.     

Temperature effects on corm dormancy and growth of Zephyra elegans D.Don

Experiments were performed with the Chilean geophyte Zephyra elegans, a potential cut flower, to evaluate the effect of corm weight and storage temperature on corm dormancy, and to determine the effect of day and night growing temperatures on its growth and flowering. Z. elegans has a deciduous and synanthous growth habit and the corm is replaced annually. Dormant corms were stored at different constant temperatures or temperature combinations from 20 to 40 °C. Corms released from their dormancy were grown at 15/10, 20/15, or 25/20 °C day/night temperatures. Corms of various weights were planted at the same date after being stored dry at 25 °C for 22 weeks. They all emerged 19–38 days after planting, showing that dormancy release was not affected by corm weight. A 20-week corm storage treatment at a constant 25 °C resulted in the most rapid corm sprouting. Sprouting percentage was reduced at higher or lower storage temperatures. Temperature also affected plant growth. When plants were grown at 15/10 or 20/15 °C they emerged and flowered more rapidly than when they were grown at 25/20 °C. The latter growing temperature also resulted in poor flower quality.     

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.     

Effect of day and night temperatures during short photoperiods on growth and flowering of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat

The effect of day and night temperatures of 10, 14 and 18°C on growth and flowering under short days was studied with six cultivais of chrysanthemum. A high day temperature resulted in earlier flowering and taller stems, but did not influence flower number and final total fresh weight, and only slightly influenced the distribution of fresh matter over stem, leaves and flowers. A high night temperature resulted in earlier flowering, more flowers and reduced stem and leaf weight. It did not affect leaf number and it influenced height and total fresh weight only slightly. Except for height, the day temperature acted independently from the night temperature. The cultivars responded similarly, except for two cultivars which generally did not flower at 10/10,10/14 and 14/10°C D/N. One cul-tivar produced more flowers at 14 than at 18°C.     

Temperature responses,flowering and fruit yield of the June-bearing strawberry cultivars Florence,Frida and Korona

The effect of night temperature on short day (SD) floral induction has been studied in three June-bearing strawberry cultivars of different geographic origin and compared with yield performance in the cool Nordic environment. At the optimum day temperature of 18 °C, the SD flowering response of the cultivars ‘Florence’ and ‘Korona’ increased significantly with increasing night temperature from 9 to 18 °C, while an optimum was reached at 15 °C in the cultivar ‘Frida’ that is selected under cool-environment conditions in Norway. Also, while saturated flowering response was obtained with 3 weeks of SD treatment at all temperatures in ‘Frida’, several plants of ‘Florence’ and ‘Korona’ failed to initiate flowers at 9 °C night temperature even with 5 weeks of SD. The effect of extended SD period was particularly pronounced in ‘Florence’. The slow SD floral induction response of ‘Florence’ was associated with a 2 week delay of anthesis in subsequent long day (LD) conditions at 21 °C. Yield performance of the same cultivars during 2 years under field conditions at Nes Hedmark and in North Norway also demonstrated that the yield potential of ‘Florence’ was not realized under the climatic conditions prevailing at these locations. In both years the yields varied significantly among the cultivars, ‘Frida’ having the highest yields followed by ‘Korona’, with ‘Florence’ far below. It is concluded that, in the Nordic environment, autumn (September) night temperatures are obviously sub-optimal for yield performance of some June-bearing strawberry cultivars, and that this effect is mediated by autumn temperature effects on flower initiation responses.     

Effects of photoperiod,light source and growth regulators on the growth and flowering of Trachelium caeruleum

Summary

Experiments were conducted to determine the appropriate photoperiod, light intensities and sources, and growth regulators, necessary to produce Trachelium caeruleum as a commercially acceptable potted plant. T. caeruleum behaved as an LDP with a critical photoperiod of 14 h necessary for flower initiation but was day neutral for subsequent flower development (from macroscopic bud visibility to anthesis). Providing long days by daylength extension using metal halide (MH) lamps to provide high irradiance resulted in significantly earlier flowering and more flowers than using either MH or incandescent lamps at low irradiance. The use of incandescent lamps to extend the day resulted in slower flowering and fewer flowers than using MH lamps at the same irradiance. Daminozide was effective for controlling plant height but ancymidol and chlormequat were ineffective. Removal of the terminal bud resulted in more compact plants, and more blooms per plant, but delayed flowering by approximately one week.     

Cold treatment modifies the photoperiodic flowering response of Lobelia×speciosa

Lobelia×speciosa Sweet ‘Compliment Scarlet' was grown under a range of photoperiods and low temperature treatments to determine their effects on flowering. In the first experiment, plants were held at 5°C for 0 or 15 weeks, then grown at 20°C under the following photoperiods: 10, 12, 14, 16, or 24 h of continual light or 9 h with a 4 h night interruption (NI). Non-cooled ‘Compliment Scarlet' flowered as a qualitative long-day plant (LDP) with a minimum flowering photoperiod of 14 h. Following cold, flowering was quantitative with respect to photoperiod, until ≈14.2 h, when the calculated rate of progress toward flowering reached a plateau. In cooled plants, node number below the inflorescence decreased from 27 to 16 as the photoperiod increased from 10 to 24 h. Cooled plants developed 61–149% more flowers and were ≥17% taller than non-cooled ones under the same photoperiod. To determine the cold duration required for flowering under short days (SD), plants were held at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 weeks at 5°C then grown at 20°C under SD (9 h photoperiod) or long days (9 h photoperiod with a 4 h NI). Under SD, few plants flowered after ≤6 weeks of cold. As cold treatment increased from 9 to 15 weeks, flowering percentage increased, time to flower decreased from 93 to 64 days, and node count decreased from 24 to 13. Cold treatment did not affect flowering percentage or time under NI, but plants always had more flowers and were taller than reproductive ones under 9 h day lengths. Thus, ‘Compliment Scarlet', is a qualitative LDP, but an extended cold treatment can partially substitute for the long day (LD) photoperiodic requirement.     

The Cause of Black Blotch Disease of the Raspberry

Summary

Actively growing, single-stemmed plants of three black currant cultivars, each with 15 – 16 nodes, were exposed to photoperiods of 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 24 h at 18°C for 8 weeks for determination of the critical photoperiods for growth cessation and floral initiation. In all three cultivars, growth cessation was induced by short day (SD) conditions, with a critical photoperiod of 16 h, and the response was advanced by decreasing the photoperiod. The critical photoperiod for 50% flowering was 16 h in the cultivars ‘Öjebyn’ and ‘Ben Tron’, and 17 h in ‘Kristin’. Unexpectedly, however, not all plants flowered after exposure to a 10 h photoperiod, and the number of flowers per plant increased several-fold as the photoperiod was increased from 10 h to 15 h in all cultivars. Apparently, this unexpected result was due to the fact that all plants had only 15 – 16 nodes at the start of the experiments, which is marginal for “ripeness to flower” in black currant. While growth cessation was almost immediate in a 10 h photoperiod, causing only a few additional leaves to be formed during the experiment, the slower response to longer photoperiods apparently enabled the plants to reach the critical size at an earlier stage of the treatment period. However, although plants with 15 – 16 nodes were only marginally responsive to SD induction, buds situated as far down the shoot as the fifth or sixth node were competent to flower. It is therefore suggested that the inability of small black currant plants to flower resides in limitations of the leaves to respond to SD and to produce a florigenic signal, while their buds are fully competent to respond to such a signal.     

Long-day control of flowering in everbearing strawberries

Summary

Photoperiod and temperature control of flowering in a number of perpetual-flowering or everbearing strawberry cultivars of widely varying pedigree has been studied in controlled environments. Flower bud initiation in the cultivars ‘Flamenco’, ‘Ridder’, ‘Rita’ and ‘Rondo’ was significantly advanced by long-day (LD) conditions at temperatures of 15°C and 21ºC; while, at 27ºC, flowering took place under LD conditions only. Some plants of the seed-propagated F₁-hybrid ‘Elan’, raised at 21°C, also flowered under short-day (SD) conditions at 27°C, but reverted to the vegetative state after a few weeks when maintained under these conditions. When vegetative plants growing in SD at 27°C were transferred to LD conditions at the same temperature, they consistently initiated flower buds and started flowering after about 4 weeks. At such a high temperature, flowering could thus be turned on and off by switching between SD and LD conditions. This applied to all the cultivars studied. Also the cultivar ‘Everest’, which was tested only at 21°C, produced similar results. Night interruption for 2 h was effective in bringing about the LD response. At 9°C, flowering was substantially delayed, especially in ‘Flamenco’ and, at this temperature, flowering was unaffected by photoperiod. Runner formation was generally promoted by high temperature and SD conditions, but the photoperiodic effect varied between experiments. We conclude that everbearing strawberry cultivars, in general, whether of the older European-type or the modern Californian-type originating from crosses with selections of Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca, are qualitative (obligatory) LD plants at high temperature (27°C), and quantitative LD plants at intermediate temperatures. Only at temperatures below 10°C are these cultivars day-neutral.     

The temperature and photoperiod regulation of flowering and runnering in the strawberries,Fragaria chiloensis,F. virginiana,and F. x ananassa

The temperature and photoperiod interactions of a number of elite genotypes of Fragaria virginiana, F. x ananassa, and F. chiloensis were studied in a series of growth chamber experiments. Several parameters were evaluated including: (1) the critical day-length (CDL) for flowering of short day (SD) genotypes under 8, 9, 10, and 11 h days at 18 °C, (2) the floral and runnering response of single and multiple cropping genotypes under 8 and 16 h days at 18 °C, and (3) the effect of temperature on flower bud formation in day-neutral (DN) genotypes held at 18, 22, 26, and 30 °C under 12 h day-lengths. The same number of flowers were initiated under 15 and 30 day induction periods, regardless of photoperiod. Frederick 9, LH 50-4 and RH 30 (F. virginiana), ‘Aromas’ and ‘Tribute’ (F. x ananassa) and CFRA 0368 of F. chiloensis flowered under both long days (LDs) and SDs; while Eagle-14 (F. virginiana), ‘Fort Laramie’ and ‘Quinalt’ (F. x ananassa) flowered only under long days. While those genotypes that flowered under both LD and SD can be considered day-neutral, they varied in the degree of floral response to the two photoperiods. CFRA 0368 and Frederick 9 produced the same number of flowers under both LDs and SDs, while ‘Aromas’ and ‘Tribute’ had more flowers under LDs and RH 30 had more under SDs. Of the DN genotypes, LH 50-4 and RH 30 were the only ones that produced runners under SDs. Flowering in ‘Fort Laramie’ was least affected of any genotype by high temperature, although its dry weight was negatively impacted. Based on these data, several genotypes show promise as breeding parents: CFRA 0368 and Frederick 9 to equalize flower production under LD and SD conditions, LH 50-4 and RH 30 to produce more freely runnering DNs, and ‘Fort Laramie’ for floral heat tolerance.     

Effects of Environment on Flower Initiation in Carnation

The main object of the investigation was to attempt the separation of effects of photoperiod and total incident light energy in controlling flower initiation in the glasshouse carnation, variety White Sim.

Low light intensities delayed flower initiation. The delay was associated with reduced rates of growth in terms of dry weight, reduced rates of leaf initiation and increased number of leaves formed below the flower. Short days also delayed flower initiation and increased the number of leaves formed below the flower. Photoperiod, however, had no appreciable effect on growth in terms of dry weight or on rates of leaf initiation, but internode length was greater in long days than in short days. A period of illumination given in the middle of the night was more effective in promoting flower initiation than an equivalent period given to extend the day. Internode length was similar in these treatments. Effects of night temperature were less consistent than those of light intensity or daylength but, under most of the conditions tested, high night temperatures (minimum 65° F. (18° C.)) delayed flower initiation and increased the number of leaves formed below the flower. Low temperature treatment of plants at 40° F. (4.5° C.) for one month promoted subsequent flower initiation and reduced the number of leaves formed below the flower.     

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.     

Seismic stress effects on reproductive structures of tomato, potato, and marigold

Periodic seismic (shaking) stress influenced the growth of sexual and asexual reproductive structures of three cultivated species. It delayed anthesis of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Patio' but not of Tagetes erecta L. 'Jubilee' or Solanum tuberosum L. 'Kennebec'. Shaken 'Jubilee' marigold plants produced the same number of flowers as undisturbed plants, but flowers of shaken plants were smaller. In contrast, seismic-stressed 'Patio' tomato produced fewer buds and flowers, but fruit set was enhanced relative to that of controls. Seismic stress also reduced tuber weight of 'Kennebec' potato, whereas tuber number was unaffected. The overall effect of seismic stress was to reduce the growth of reproductive structures and, in some cases, the number of reproductive structures that developed.