Inflorescence Initiation in Lolium Temulentum l. II. Evidence for Inhibitory and Promotive Photoperiodic Processes Involving Transmissible Products

Abstract

Plants of Lolium temulentum, raised in short days, were given an inductive treatment by exposure of one leaf blade to a 32-hr period of continuous illumination. Then either the leaf exposed to this one long light period or varying areas of lower leaves which were simultaneously in short-day conditions were removed at intervals after the long-day exposure. The longer the long-day leaves remained on the plants, the greater was the proportion of plants which initiated inflorescences and the greater the rate of development of their inflorescences. This was so even when short-day leaves were present above the long-day ones. The longer the short-day leaves remained, and the greater their area, the lower was the proportion of plants which initiated inflorescences.