Summary
Flower formation in the long-short-day plantBryophyllum daigremontianum induced by the shift from long to short day is fully suppressed by applying the growth retardant CCC [(2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride]via the roots during short day treatment at a level of at least 1 g per plant. At the same time CCC applications strongly reduce the internode length, but the rate of leaf formation does not seem to be affected. CCC also causes the production of more anthocyanin in the leaves.
Gibberellin A3 appliedvia the apices and youngest leaves at a dose of 1.5 μg per plant, completely overcomes the inhibition of flower formation caused by CCC. Ten times higher quantities are needed for a complete reversal of the reduction in stem elongation.
The growth retardant CCC seems to keep the level of physiologically active GA below that which is normally required for floral initiation and stem elongation. Thus, the results are in agreement with the hypothesis that a high GA level is necessary for the production of floral stimulus inBryophyllum daigremontianum.
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This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, grants G-16408 and G-17483.
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Zeevaart, J.A.D., Lang, A. Suppression of floral induction inBryophyllum daigremontianum by a growth retardant. Planta 59, 509–517 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01914994
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01914994