Abstract
EFFORTS to induce flowering in the short-day plant Xanthium pensylvanicum under long-day conditions have consistently failed up to now. From numerous reports it has been concluded that for flower induction a short photoperiod must be followed by a long night. The role of the short photoperiod seems to be the photosynthetic production of energy substrates, since it can be substituted for it by sugar treatment1. An uninterrupted long dark period of 9 hr. or more is considered to be necessary to build up a minimum amount of ‘flower stimulus’. However, in Perilla, also a short-day plant, the long-night requirement was alleviated by exposing the plants to a low light-intensity during the day2. Furthermore, a low-temperature treatment during part of the long photoperiod was found to promote flowering (Wellensiek, private correspondence). Thus it appeared worth while to study the effect of low light-intensity and of low temperature during a long photoperiod on the flowering response in Xanthium.
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References
Liverman, J. L., and Bonner, J., Bot. Gaz., 115, 121 (1953).
Zeeuw, D. de, Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch. Amsterdam, C, 56, 418 (1953).
Salisbury, F. B., Plant Physiol., 30 (4), 327 (1955).
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ZEEUW, D. Flowering of Xanthium under Long-Day Conditions. Nature 180, 558 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/180558a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/180558a0
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