Floral Initiation and Vascular Development in Lateral Buds of Kalanchoe

Abstract

Early development of lateral buds is demonstrated as one of the evocation events in Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln.). Lateral buds of `Cactus Candy', `Gelbe Melody', and `Jupiter' that were ≈5 mm long or less showed no signs of a change to the reproductive state after 21 short days. However, larger lateral buds for `Jupiter' did show floral initiation while those of `Cactus Candy' and `Gelbe Melody' did not. Studies of the vascular arrangement indicate the presence of four dorsal and four ventral bundles connecting leaves to the stem. Vascular connections to lateral buds arise from vascular cambium but do not appear to connect to any of the bundles that supply leaves.