THE EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND TEMPERATURE ON FLORAL INITIATION AND INFLORESCENCE DEVELOPMENT OF MARQUIS WHEAT

Abstract

Under continuous illumination, floral initiation was earlier with each increase in light intensity from 200 to 2500 ft-c, and with each increase in temperature between 10 and 30 °C. This effect of light intensity is attributed to promotion of floral initiation by energy in the far-red (730 mμ).The rate of formation of leaf primordia was accelerated by increases in light intensity to a greater extent than floral initiation, so that the final leaf number on the main shoot was greatest for the plants grown at high light intensities. Between 10 and 25 °C an increase in temperature had similar effects on the rate of formation of leaf primordia and floral initiation, so that the final leaf number was not altered. The final leaf number was lower at 30 °C than at 25 °C because leaf primordium formation was retarded.After floral initiation, the growth of the apical meristem was most rapid at 30 °C and 2500 ft-c, resulting in the earliest heading and anthesis (33 and 38 days). Low temperatures strongly retarded the later stages of ear development and emergence.