Rootstock Affects Floral Induction in Citrus Engaging the Expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT)

In Citrus, flower induction represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The regulation of flower induction is mainly triggered by exposure to low temperatures and water-deficit stress, which activates the signaling cascade leading to an increased expression of the citrus orthologs of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT). In this study, the relationship between rootstock and flower induction under Mediterranean field conditions was investigated by monitoring the expression levels of the floral promoter CiFT2 in leaves of the pigmented sweet orange “Tarocco Scirè” grafted onto “C35” citrange and “Swingle” citrumelo rootstocks. The latter two are known to confer, respectively, high and low yield efficiency to the scion. In both rootstock/scion combinations, CiFT2 showed a seasonal expression with a peak during the inductive period in January triggered by cold temperature. The “Tarocco Scirè”/”C35” citrange combination showed the highest expression levels for CiFT2; this increased expression was correlated with yield and a higher number of flowers in the following spring, suggesting a significant effect of rootstocks on flower induction mediated by the overexpression of the CiFT2 gene.

The effect of inductive photoperiod on flower formation and phytohormones level in a long day plant Hyoscyamus niger L.

The anatomical and hormonal investigations on a long day plant <i>Hyoscyamus niger</i> L. during the time of the generative photoinduction have been conducted. The plants were grown during 75 days on a short photoperiod and then they were transferred to long day conditions. The earliest anatomical symptoms of flower initiation were noticed after four long photoperiods. The inductive photoperiod causes also a general increase in the amounts of phytohormones. During the flower evocation the intensive accumulation of cytokinins and gibberellins in leaves takes place. The post-inductive period, in which the development of flower elements happens, is characterized by changing amount of phytohormones. The content of hormonal substances is subjected to the rhytmical changes related to the periods of light and darknees in the twenty four hours' cycle.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POZZOLANA ON HARDENING PROCESS AND PROPERTIES OF HYDRAULIC BINDER BASED ON NATURAL ANHYDRITE

The study deals with peculiarities of hydration and development of hardening structure as well as durability properties pertaining to composite anhydrite cement pozzolana binder (ACP) with different pozzolana (P). The properties of P have an effect on ACP hydration, structure development and durability properties. This effect is different than that in cement pastes. Investigations were performed with known P: natural opoka (O) and microsilica (MS), also with production waste of mineral wool – cupola dust (CD), which is famous for high fineness and amorphous structure of particles. It was established that the activity of P compounds contained in CD was very high making this waste suitable for ACP as a P component. In ACCD samples, one could observe the most intense hydration; and after a longer inductive period, the development of hardening microstructure was more rapid than in ACMS or ACO; furthermore, a remarkably higher strength was reached. The slowest hydration and structure compacting as well as the lowest strength were found in ACMS samples. It shows that the high pozzolanic activity of P is not the crucial index in evaluation of its effect on ACP properties. Chemical properties of P have a remarkably greater effect; and in case of CD, it is most likely due to reactive alkaline admixtures.

156 Effects of the Inductive Period, Shoot Density, and Leaf Removal on the Flowering of Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pavon

Heliconia rostrata is a herbaceous-musoid sympodial rhizomatous plant that grows as clump. After three leaves are produced, each shoot of the clump may bear an inflorescence if it is induced by short days (SD). However, the relationship between shoot density and flowering has not been quantified. To evaluate the effects of the inductive period, number of shoots, and leaf removal on flowering, rhizomes were planted in 120 pots (8 L). One-third of the pots were planted with two rhizomes, while the remainder was planted with one. One-half of the pots with one rhizome were allowed to develop all their shoots for three generations, while in the remaining pots only one shoot per generation was allowed to grow. In addition, one-half of the plants in all the treatments were subjected to selective leaf removal. The plants were grown under long days (LD) >13 h in a glasshouse until four leaves were produced. Inductive SD was supplied to all the plants from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am. After 8 weeks of SD, one-half of the plants were given LD, while the other half continued under SD (conSD) until flowering. The highest percentage of flowering shoots (39% to 35%) was observed in plants under conSD; plants under SD-LD were 10% to 9%. The second generation of shoots showed the highest flowering (74% conSD and 21% SD-LD), followed by the first (62% conSD and 18% SD-LD), and third (31% conSD and 0% SD-LD) generations. Non-flowering shoots of the first generation were aborted or dead. Shoots of the third were still vegetative, since they had few leaves to be induced. Fewer flowers occurred in clumps allowed to develop all their shoots. Intact plants from rhizomes with one shoot per generation flowered more than the partially defoliated ones under conSD.

580 GA Application Timing in Fall and Winter Influences Bloom Period, Fowering Intensity, and Final Crop in Florida `Navel' Orange

In Florida's subtropical climate, citrus floral induction is primarily stimulated by cool weather in the fall and winter. Frequently, inductive periods are separated by warm conditions conducive to bud development, resulting in prolonged and multiple bloom. Large variability in date of fruit-set creates an array of problems, and prolonged bloom contributes to severity of postbloom fruit drop. GA applied during the inductive period inhibits bloom in citrus. This study was conducted to determine whether different GA application timings could shift bloom intensity and duration to reduce problems associated with prolonged bloom. GA was applied via airblast sprayer to mature `Navel' on sour orange rootstock near Ft. Pierce, Fla., at 49.4 g GA/ha, 0.05% Silwet L-77, and 2340 L/HA spray volume. Six single-tree experimental units per treatment were blocked by size and vigor in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were time of GA application: 23 Nov. 1998; 17 Dec. 1998; 6 Jan. 1999; 25 Jan. 1999; 23 Nov. and 17 Dec.; 23 Nov. and 25 Jan.; 6 Jan. and 25 Jan.; and a control. Bloom began one month earlier on trees that received the two January applications compared to trees that received GA on 23 Nov. and 17 Dec.. Trees sprayed 25 Jan. (or 6 Jan. and 25 Jan.) had 2 weeks shorter bloom duration compared to controls. Total flowering on GA-treated trees ranged from 13% to 55% of the controls. Single GA applications on 17 Dec. and 6 Jan. increased fruit yield at harvest by 42% and 25%, respectively, while GA on 6 and 25 Jan. yielded 27% less than controls. All other timings had no effect on yield.

CNS control of a critical period for peripheral induction of central neurons in the leech

Most midbody ganglia in the central nervous system (CNS) of the leech Hirudo medicinalis contain about 400 neurons. However, those in the fifth and sixth midbody segments (ganglia M5 and M6) are specialized for reproductive functions, and each contain several hundred additional small neurons. These neurons arise late in embryogenesis as a result of an innervation-dependent inductive interaction between the male genitalia and M5 and M6 and are therefore known as peripherally induced central (PIC) neurons. The results of a series of ablation and transplantation experiments show that the PIC neurons are induced during a 1 to 2 day period about midway in embryogenesis (E15). The male genitalia are not necessary for induction before or after this period, and their presence for only one day may be sufficient for the induction to take place. Heterochronic transplantation of male genitalia shows that the critical period of interaction is independent of the age of the inducing tissues. Since the inductive signal is available from E10 to postembryonic stages, both the beginning and the end of the inductive period are determined by the CNS, not the periphery.

Inhibition of flower development in Chenopodium rubrum by a photosynthetic inhibitor

Cumming 1969 has demonstrated that the short-day plant Chenopodium rubrum (60°47′ N) is induced to flower if inductive darkness is substituted by a relatively long exposure to a low intensity light of a low red/far-red ratio (light emitted by BCJ lamps). DCMU (3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea), a photosynthetic inhibitor, inhibited flowering if applied during this inductive BCJ light period.Our experiments show that ascorbic acid and dichlorophenol-indophenol (which have been used as reducing agents in photosynthesis by various workers) overcome the effect of DCMU on flowering. Sugars are also effective in overcoming the DCMU effect. This indicates that DCMU acts specifically on photosynthesis and that there are no side effects.In Cumming's experiments DCMU was supplied at the start of a BCJ inductive period and then washed off at the end of the BCJ period. However, there are indications that DCMU may persist in the plant for several days after the medium on which plants are growing has been thoroughly washed off. This raises the question whether the action of DCMU is on induction in BCJ light or on subsequent development in white light. By applying DCMU during the BCJ period and terminating its effect by ascorbic acid + dichlorophenol-indophenol or sugars at the time of transferring to white light, no inhibition of flowering was found. This suggests that inhibition of photosynthesis during the inductive BCJ light had no detrimental effect on flowering. The inhibition of flowering by DCMU might be a result of inadequate photosynthesis in white light for development of floral primordia.