scholarly journals Photocontrol of Flowering and Extension Growth in the Long-day Plant Pansy

2003 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik S. Runkle ◽  
Royal D. Heins

Plastics that selectively reduce the transmission of far-red light (FR, 700 to 800 nm) reduce extension growth of many floricultural crops. However, FR-deficient (FRd) environments delay flowering in some long-day plants (LDPs), including `Crystal Bowl Yellow' pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana Gams). Our objective was to determine if FR light could be added to an otherwise FRd environment to facilitate flowering with minimal extension growth. In one experiment, plants were grown under a 16-hour FRd photoperiod, and FR-rich light was added during portions of the day or night. For comparison, plants were also grown with a 9-hour photoperiod [short-day (SD) control] or under a neutral (N) filter with a 16-hour photoperiod (long day control). Flowering was promoted most (i.e., percent of plants that flowered increased and time to flower decreased) when FR-rich light was added during the entire 16-hour photoperiod, during the last 4 hours of the photoperiod, or during the first or second 4 hours after the end of the photoperiod. In a separate experiment, pansy was grown under an FRd or N filter with a 9-hour photoperiod plus 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hours of night interruption (NI) lighting that delivered a red (R, 600 to 700 nm) to FR ratio of 0.56 (low), 1.28 (moderate), or 7.29 (high). Under the N filter, the minimum NI duration that increased percent flowering was 2 hours with a moderate or low R:FR and 4 hours with a high R:FR. Under the FRd filter, 2 or 4 hours of NI lighting with a moderate or low R:FR, respectively, was required to increase percent flowering, but a 4-hour NI with a high R:FR failed to promote flowering. Pansy appears to be day-neutral with respect to flower initiation and a quantitative LDP with respect to flower development. The promotion of reproductive development was related linearly to the promotion of extension growth. Therefore, it appears that in LDPs such as pansy, light duration and quality concomitantly promote extension growth and flowering, and cannot readily be separated with lighting strategies.

2001 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik S. Runkle ◽  
Royal D. Heins

For many long-day plants (LDP), adding far red light (FR, 700 to 800 nm) to red light (R, 600 to 700 nm) to extend the day or interrupt the night promotes extension growth and flowering. Blue light (B, 400 to 500 nm) independently inhibits extension growth, but its effect on flowering is not well described. Here, we determined how R-, FR-, or B-deficient (Rd, FRd, or Bd, respectively) photoperiods influenced stem extension and flowering in five LDP species: Campanula carpatica Jacq., Coreopsi ×grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet, Lobelia ×speciosa Sweet, Pisum sativum L., and Viola ×wittrockiana Gams. Plants were exposed to Rd, FRd, Bd, or normal (control) 16-hour photoperiods, each of which had a similar photosynthetic (400 to 700 nm) photon flux. Compared with that of the control, the Rd environment promoted extension growth in C. carpatica (by 65%), C. ×grandiflora (by 26%), P. sativum (by 23%), and V. ×wittrockiana (by 31%). The FRd environment suppressed extension growth in C. ×grandiflora (by 21%), P. sativum (by 17%), and V. ×wittrockiana (by 14%). Independent of the R: FR ratio, the Bd environment promoted stem extension (by 10% to 100%) in all species, but there was little or no effect on flowering percentage and time to flower. Extension growth was generally linearly related to the incident wide band (100 nm) R: FR ratio or estimated phytochrome photoequilibrium except when B light was specifically reduced. A high R: FR ratio (i.e., under the FRd filter) delayed flower initiation (but not development) in C. carpatica and C.×grandiflora and inhibited flower development (but not initiation) in V.×wittrockiana. Therefore, B light and the R: FR ratio independently regulate extension growth by varying magnitudes in LDP, and in some species, an FRd environment can suppress flower initiation or development.


Author(s):  
Rúben Marques ◽  
Sónia Cruz ◽  
Ricardo Calado ◽  
Ana Lillebø ◽  
Helena Abreu ◽  
...  

Abstract Codium tomentosum is a marine green macroalga with multiple value-added applications that is being successfully used as an extractive species in sustainable integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems. Nonetheless, growth conditions of this species at an early development phase still require optimization. The present study addresses, under controlled laboratory conditions, the effects of photoperiod (long vs. short-day) and light spectra (white, blue, and red light) on growth and pigment composition of C. tomentosum. Relative growth rate was approximately 2× higher under long-day photoperiod (average of 39.2 and 20.1% week−1 for long and short-day, respectively). Concentrations per dry weight of major pigments such as chlorophyll a (Chla) and siphonoxanthin (Siph) were significantly higher under long-day photoperiod. Relative growth rates were higher under red light, intermediate under white light, and lower under blue light. These last results were rather surprising, as Siph-Chla/Chlb light harvesting complexes of Codium have increased absorption in the blue-green region of the light spectra. Changes in carbon allocation patterns caused by the spectral composition of light and overgrowth of green microalgae in blue light cultures could explain the differences recorded for relative growth rate. Long-day photoperiod and light sources with preferential emission at the red region of the light spectra were identified as optimal for growth of C. tomentosum at early development stages. These lighting conditions can reduce the time required to reach the necessary biomass before transfer to grow-out systems. Overall, these findings can shorten production time, increase macroalgal productivity, and enhance aquaculture revenues.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan M. Armitage

Hamelia patens Jacq. (Texas firebush) is a long-day plant for flower initiation and flower development; however, flower development is more sensitive to photoperiod than is flower initiation. The critical photoperiod for flower development at 25C is between 12 and 16 hours. Flowering was delayed under low light conditions, and plant dry weight was heavier and flowering time was earlier for plants grown at a constant 25 or 30C than at 20C. A greenhouse environment with a 16-hour photoperiod and moderately high temperature (25C) would be appropriate for production of H. patens.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 436E-436
Author(s):  
Teresa A. Cerny ◽  
Nihal C. Rajapakse ◽  
Ryu Oi

Growth chambers constructed from photoselective plastic films were used to investigate the effects of light quality on height manipulation and flowering of photoperiodic plant species. Three types of treatment films were used; control, a far-red light intercepting film (YXE-10) and a red light intercepting film (SXE-4). The red (600-700 nm):far-red (700-800 nm) ratios and phytochrome photoequilibrium estimates for the control, YXE-10 and SXE-4 films were 1.0 and 0.71, 1.5 and 0.77, and 0.71 and 0.67, respectively. The photosynthetic photon flux was adjusted to uniformity among chambers using neutral density filters. Spectral filters did not effect minimum and maximum air temperatures. Experiments were conducted using quantitative long day (Antirrhinum majus and Petunia × hybrida), quantitative short day (Zinnia elegans and Dendranthema × grandiflorum) and day-neutral (Rosa × hydrida) plant species under natural short-day conditions. Plants produced under the YXE-10 filters were significantly shorter than the control plants, while plants produced under the SXE-4 films had similar or increased height compared to the control plants. However, both height response and flowering times varied with the crop species. Flowering time of Rosa × hybrida plants was uniform among all treatments. Flowering of quantitative long-day plants was delayed by at least 10 days under the YXE-10 film and was most responsive to the filtered light. Flowering of quantitative short-day plants was delayed by 2 days under the YXE-10. Days to flower for plants produced under the SXE-4 film were similar to the control plants for all species tested.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 554d-554
Author(s):  
Millie S. Williams ◽  
Terri Woods Starman

Photoperiod requirements are important for optimum flower development, decreasing production time, year-round flowering, and/or for increasing vegetative growth necessary in stock plant production. The photoperiodic responses were determined for 24 vegetatively propagated specialty floral crops. Each plant species was grown at 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, and 16-h photoperiods. Photoperiods were provided by 8 h of sunlight, then pulling black cloth and providing daylength extension with incandescent bulbs. Data collected included time to flower, flower number, and vegetative characteristics. Evolvulus nuttallianus `Blue Daze', Heliotropium arborescens `Fragrant Delight', and Orthosiphon stamineus `Lavender' were facultative short-day plants with respect to flowering. Time to flower increased as photoperiod increased. Duranta repens `Blue', Verbena hybrid `Tapien Lavender', and Verbena peruviana `Trailing Katie' were facultative long day plants with respect to flowering. Days to visible bud and first open flower decreased as photoperiod increased. Argeranthemum frutescens `Sugar Baby', Scaevola aemula `Fancy Fan Falls', and Portulaca hybrid `Apricot' had increased flower number as photoperiod increased from 8- to 16-h, although time to first flower initiation was not affected. Abutilon hybrid `Apricot', Duranta repens `Blue', Evolvulus nuttallianus `Blue Daze', Lotus berthelotii `Parrot's Beak', Lysimachia nummularia `Aurea Creeping Golden', Rhodanthe anthemoides `Milkyway', and Scaevola aemula `Fancy Fan Falls' had increased vegetative growth as photoperiod increased. All other species studied were day-neutral with regard to flowering and vegetative parameters.


2001 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 710-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil O. Anderson ◽  
Peter D. Ascher

Commercial garden and greenhouse chrysanthemums [Dendranthema ×grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitam. (syn. Chrysanthemum xmorifolium Ramat.)] are facultative short-day plants for flower bud initiation, obligate short-day plants for flower bud development, and are categorized into short-day response groups. Flower initiation can be delayed by high night temperatures. Recent research has identified true day-neutral genotypes. The purpose of this investigation was to test environments for selecting genotypes that are both day-neutral and heat-delay insensitive. One greenhouse and 18 garden genotypes were selected. A series of environments were used to select for day-neutral genotypes and then differentiate between these genotypes for heat delay insensitivity: short days, long days/red light, long days/far red light and high temperatures, and natural day lengths under field conditions. Day-neutral selections from these environments were then grown in a fifth environment of long days/continuous far red and red light with high temperature. Data were collected on the number of days to first and third flower, long day leaf number, stem length, number of strap-shaped leaves subtending the terminal flower, internode lengths, number of nodes with axillary branching, and flower bud development of the first to the sixth flowers. Genotypes required 3 to 8 weeks for complete flower bud initiation/development. Flowering responses in the first four environments were highly significant for both the first and third flowers. Genotypes ranged from obligate short-day to day-neutral for the first six flowers. Three day-neutral genotypes were selected that differed significantly for all traits in the fifth environment; flower bud development with the first six flowers occurred with only one genotype, 83-267-3. Broad sense heritability estimates ranged from h2 = 0.75 for number of nodes with axillary branching, h2 = 0.79 for long day leaf number and number of strap-shaped leaves, to h2 = 0.91 for stem length. An ideotype for day-neutral and heat-delay-insensitive garden chrysanthemums was developed for use in breeding programs.


2005 ◽  
Vol 191 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Han ◽  
C. Wu ◽  
R. S. Mentreddy ◽  
J. Zhao ◽  
X. Xu ◽  
...  

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1241-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce G. Cumming

In a short-day response type of Chenopodium rubrum (ecotype 60°47′ N), light of a relatively low red/far-red ratio—but of sufficient energy to allow photosynthesis—can bring about induction of flowering when it completely replaces a single dark period interrupting continuous white light. When high-intensity white incandescent light was interrupted for less than a 24-hour period, a longer period of inductive light than darkness was required even for minimal induction. An inductive light interruption of at least 60 hours was required for 100% flower induction. The result of such forcing of the system by inductive light, as compared with the circadian rhythmic induction that occurred in darkness, was a change towards a more linear inductive response and there were indications (requiring confirmation) of oscillations of higher frequency.When seedlings were maintained continuously in optimal inductive light or in darkness, after an initial high intensity white light period, there was some flower initiation within 5 days in inductive light, but not until about 10 days in darkness, and then only when sucrose was supplied throughout darkness.There were suboptimal and (inhibitory) supraoptimal effects on induction when the R/FR ratio and (or) the energy of inductive light were decreased or increased, respectively. These results, in conjunction with the effects that were obtained when glucose and 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) were applied in inductive light as compared with darkness, implicate both photosynthate and phytochrome-Pfr as having a positive (promotive) effect during normal inductive darkness.These findings emphasize that the important controls in photoperiodism and flowering may be quantitative rather than qualitative in character, because it can now be questioned whether there is any essential dark-requiring reaction in the induction not only of long-day but also of short-day plants.


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