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Control of Flower Development

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Plant Developmental Biology - Biotechnological Perspectives

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Abstract

The transition from vegetative growth to flowering occurs at the shoot apical meristem (Simpson et al. 1999; Parcy 2005). Floral induction causes an apical meristem to produce flowers, which consist of a complex array of specialized structures (Zeevaart 1976; Bernier 1998). Flowering is regulated by signals from endogenous and external sources. Endogenous signals include circadian rhythms, developmental stage and hormones, while external signals comprise day length and temperature.

It has been well documented that floral stimuli are translocated from the leaves to the shoot apical meristem (Garner and Allard 1920; Evans 1971; Yanovsky and Kay 2002; Searle and Coupland 2004). The interaction of these endogenous and external signals enables the plant to synchronize its reproductive development with the environment (Fig. 10.1). Morphological changes first occur during the transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage (Lang 1952; Weigel 1995). When reproductive development is initiated, the vegetative meristem is transformed into the primary inflorescence meristem that, in turn, produces an elongated inflorescence axis bearing cauline leaves and flowers. The axillary buds of cauline leaves develop into secondary inflorescence meristems. The inflorescence meristem grows indefinitely and exhibits indeterminate growth. Floral meristems give rise to flowers, which are formed by determinate growth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. , Kyoto Prefectural University, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, Shimogamo-nakaragi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan

    H. Yamashita

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Science, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Y. Komeda

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  1. H. Yamashita
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Correspondence to Y. Komeda .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New Era College, Jalan Bukit, Kajang, 43000, Malaysia

    Eng Chong Pua

  2. Dept. Plant Sciences Division, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom

    Michael R. Davey

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Yamashita, H., Komeda, Y. (2010). Control of Flower Development. In: Pua, E., Davey, M. (eds) Plant Developmental Biology - Biotechnological Perspectives. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02301-9_10

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