New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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FLOWERING IN LOTUS PEDUNCULATUS CAV. 1. EFFECTS OF PHOTOPERIOD

B. J. Forde and R. G. Thomas*

Plant Physiology Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North

Abstract Photoperiodic control of flowering in a north German variety of Lotus pedunculatus Cav. was investigated in the glasshouse under both natural and incandescent light. For four clones studied, the critical daylength for inflorescence initiation under natural light alone ranged from 14-5 to over 15-0 hours. The requirement for long days was satisfied in short days by a two-hour light-break in the middle of the dark period. Strong flowering occurred with a 12-hour main light period, but with a 10-hour main light period all inflorescences aborted. Under all conditions tested a proportion of inflorescences aborted. Time to flowering and degree of inflorescence abortion were less in plants grown in continuous light (natural days supplemented with light of 400 foot-candles) than in natural days supplemented to 16 hours with light of 400 or 100 foot-candles. With the low intensity supplement all inflorescences aborted. The results indicate that both initiation and further development of inflorescences are strongly affected by the intensity and total quantity of light received as well as by photoperiod.

N.Z. Jl Bot. 4 : 147-52 (Received for publication 28 October 1965)

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (555K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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