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Photoperiodic Responses of Plants and Animals

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Abstract

INTERRUPTION of the dark period of a 24-hr, cycle with visible radiation has been found to control reproduction in representatives of the Spermatophyta, Chordata, Arthropoda and Mollusca. Elongation, possibly cell division, in certain seedling structures is controlled by the same photoreaction as that for the photoperiodic control of reproduction in plants. It seems quite probable that the plumage cycles of birds, production of wings by aphids, prevention of diapause in some insects and the regulation of hair cycles of certain animals are controlled by the same photoreaction that controls sexual reproduction. A considerable volume of descriptive literature has grown up on this day-length phenomenon, which is a major expression of species adaptation to changing season.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md.

    M. W. PARKER, S. B. HENDRICKS & H. A. BORTHWICK

  2. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.

    C. E. JENNER

Authors
  1. M. W. PARKER
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  2. S. B. HENDRICKS
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  3. H. A. BORTHWICK
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  4. C. E. JENNER
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PARKER, M., HENDRICKS, S., BORTHWICK, H. et al. Photoperiodic Responses of Plants and Animals. Nature 169, 242–243 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169242a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/169242a0

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