Flower initiation in Trifolium subterraneum L. II. Limitations by vernalization, low temperatures, and photoperiod, in the field at Canberra

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
FHW Morley ◽  
LT Evans

At various times throughout the winter, autumn-sown plants of five strains of subterranean clover were removed from the field to a series of day length and temperature treatments. The times to inflorescence initiation in all treatments were determined by dissection. As vernalization proceeded the requirement of all strains for long days was progressively reduced until, by midwinter, several strains had become virtually independent of day length. Similarly, with the progress of vernalization the inhibitory effects of high temperatures during short days became progressively less marked. Whereas exposure to long days at high temperatures greatly accelerated inflorescence initiation in all strains, long days at low field temperatures had little effect. Evidence is presented which suggests that the limiting effect of very low temperatures on initiation is due not only to retardation of the rate of inflorescence primordium formation (realization), but also to limitation of an inductive process other than vernalization and dark period inhibition. The flowering behaviour of the various strains is discussed in terms of their responses to the partial processes leading to inflorescence initiation, and the interrelationships of these processes are considered.

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LT Evans

The influence of various temperature and photoperiod regimes on flower initiation and flowering in eight strains of T. subterraneum has been examined, using the controlled environment facilities of the Earhart Laboratory. Flower initiation in subterranean clover appears to be under the control of three interacting partial processes, two of which are synergistic and promotive while the third is inhibitory. The promotive processes are possibly both light-independent, one being favoured by high temperatures and the other (the vernalization process) by low temperatures. The inhibitory process, on the other hand, is restricted to the diurnal dark period and is favoured by high temperatures. The interaction between the vernalization and dark inhibitory processes is such that in the absence of dark inhibition no vernalization is required by any strain, while on. the other hand sufficient vernalization can apparently overcome all dark inhibitory effects. Treatment with gibberellic acid eliminates the need for vernalization by plants of at least one early-flowering strain when. grown in short days at high temperatures. The strains of subterranean clover differ markedly in their responses to the three partial processes. In their response to the dark inhibitory process two strains are more affected by night temperature than by night length, while in two other strains the opposite is the case, which suggests that the dark inhibitory process could be resolved into more than one component.


1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Aitken

The description of oat varieties as early, mid, and late depends mainly on differences in their time of flower initiation. Flower initiation has been studied in varieties grown in southern Australia and ranging in maturity from first early to late. The time to flower initiation was found to depend greatly on the variety�s response to photoperiod and temperature. In all groups but the first early one, initiation was hastened by lengthening photoperiod and reducing temperature. The later the variety, the greater was the effect. Early varieties are those in which initiation occurs at a low leaf number over a wide range of photoperiods and temperatures. Late varieties result from initiation at a high leaf number, the delay compared with early varieties being due to sensitivity to high temperatures and to short photoperiods. These are the conditions prevailing after late summer and autumn sowings. Late varieties mature early in the field when grown either at low temperatures (below 50�F), or at slightly higher temperatures (below 60�F) and intermediate photoperiod. This is similar to the reaction of variety Clare in the second early group of' subterranean clover. Very late varieties of oats, similar to winter wheats which have a pronounced cold requirement for initiation, are not yet present in Australia.


1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Aitken

The value of the annual legume Trifolium subterraneum L. (subterranean clover) in Australian agriculture warrants more precise knowledge of factors affecting flowering and prolific seeding. The effect of temperature and photoperiod on flower initiation in early and later flowering varieties has been investigated in an effort to determine the geographical limits of the use of subterranean clover in Australia. At any time of sowing, the length of the growing season of a variety depends greatly on the variety's response to the temperature level and to the photoperiod of the first few weeks after germination. In all varieties of subterranean clover so far examined flower initiation is accelerated by a period of low temperature. In the later varieties, flower initiation is prevented by an insufficient period of low temperature. The length of the necessary cold period is shortened under longer photoperiod. Early varieties are early flowering because they do not require so long a cold period or so low a temperature as late varieties.


1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Rossiter ◽  
AJ Millington

A very early-flowering strain of subterranean clover was discovered in 1957 at Carnamah, W.A. From extensive studies at several field centres, it was demonstrated that the new strain – now called Carnamah – commenced flowering from 30 to 10 days before Dwalganup (the standard commercial "early" strain) when sown in the autumn-early winter period. With very early planting – late March – the difference in flowering time was even greater (about 45–50 days). The very early-flowering nature of the Carnamah strain is associated with early flower initiation. Rate of flower development (from flower initiation to flower appearance) in relation to temperature was similar for Carnamah and Dwalganup. Under spaced-plant conditions the total production of Carnamah was much less than that of Dwalganup, a finding which conforms to the results of previous single-plant studies. The new strain was not readily distinguished from Dwalganup, but several minor differences in morphology are mentioned. The chromosome number was normal for the species (2n = 16). The relevance of these data to sward conditions is discussed briefly, and it is suggested that the Carnamah strain may be more effective than Dwalganup in extending the "clover belt" inland in southern Australia.


1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 959 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Collins ◽  
DF Smith

An investigation of the influence of vernalization on the rate of development in three cultivars of subterranean clover was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. Effects were evaluated in terms of the time from imbibition to flower initiation or flowering, i.e. including the time during which vernalization was imposed. In these terms, vernalization actually delayed flowering in the Yarloop and Mt. Barker cultivars, hastening it only in Tallarook. Some practical considerations are discussed. The effects of periods of higher temperatures after vernalization on the rate of development were also studied. No evidence was found for the occurrence of devernalization. If devernalization docs occur in subterranean clover, it is unlikely to be of practical consequence in normal field situations.


1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 875 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Collins ◽  
DF Smith

The influence of different levels of temperature during seed maturation on the subsequent rate of development in plants grown from that seed was studied in a range of subterranean clover cultivars. In one study the cultivars Carnamah, Yarloop, Woogenellup and Mt. Barker were grown at 7, 11, 14 and 17°C, and the seed produced grown on at 17°. Observations were made on the rate of leaf appearance, time of flower initiation, and time and node of first flowering. The rate of development was closely related to the temperature under which the seed was produced—the lower the temperature the faster was the rate of development. This effect was greatest with the later-flowering cultivars. In a second experiment, seed of a number of cultivars harvested commercially from a wide range of sites in southern Australia was grown on at 17°C and the rate of development observed. Time of flowering varied markedly between samples of only three cultivars. Accordingly seed of these samples were grown on for a further generation in a controlled environment. Within two of the cultivars, Mt. Barker and Bacchus Marsh, the differences in flowering observed in the previous generation persisted, which suggests that such differences were not based on environmental factors. In the cultivar Woogenellup the differences in flowering disappeared, which suggests that the original differences arose through different environmental conditions occurring during seed maturation. Cold acquisition in the maturing embryo does not seem to be a matter of practical consequence at present in subterranean clover, but may become so with changes in the location of seed production.


1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (44) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Taylor

The effect of several seed treatments on germination of 13 strains of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) seed was examined at two constant temperatures in the laboratory. Tests were conducted on soft seed obtained after scarification of seed sampled on three occasions during the summer and autumn. Germinability varied between strains, but always increased with time after harvest ripeness. Leaching with water promoted some germination in even the most dormant seed. Treatment with carbon dioxide was effective in promoting germination at 20�C, but was less effective than leaching at 30�C. The results suggest that protection against germination by embryo dormancy is likely to be confined to conditions of comparatively high temperatures (>20�C) when associated with summer rains having little or no leaching effect.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Haralambidis ◽  
M. E. Tzanakakis

Mummified pistachios containing fully grown diapause larvae of Eurytoma plotnikovi Nikol’skaya were collected from mid-November on from trees in coastal northern Greece and placed in a field cage. Every 5 weeks, fruits from the cage and from the trees were placed at 16L:8D h and 26°C. Pupation within I or 2 weeks showed that diapause was terminated between early April and early May. Two years later, strarting in early September, mummified fruits from the same trees were collected at bimonthly intervals and subjected fora few to several months to combinations of certain temperatures and photoperiods, followed by different conbinations of temperatures and photoperiods, then to 16L:8D h and 25°C. In larvae of early September, 6 months at 6°C was the most effective treatment for diapause termination. Diapause was also terminated or almost so after: (1) 4 months at 25°C and long photophase followed by 5 months at 14° or 6°C, (2) 4 months at 20°C and a 12 h photophase followed by 3 months at 14° or 6°C, (3) 4 months at WC and short photophase followed by 3 months at 6°C, and (4) 4 or 6 months at WC and short photophase. The results are in line with previous work, showing that, in larvae picked in early autumn, low temperatures and short days fora few to several months followed by high temperatures and a long day favor an early and synchronous termination of diapause. The time of diapause termination being in mid-spring, long days seem to be a reasonable signal for diapause termination, as shown by previous work. In larvae of early January, for a synchronous diapause termination four months at 20°C and a 12 h photophase followed by 3 months at WC and an 8 h photophase was the most effective treatment, without the need for a long-day final condition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelu Jain Gupta ◽  
Vinod Kumar

Day length regulates the development of seasonal phenotypes linked with both the spring migration (e.g., premigratory body fattening and intense nighttime restlessness, called Zugunruhe, in captive birds) and reproduction (e.g., gonadal growth and maturation). The apparent overlap in these photoinduced seasonal phenotypes could be taken to suggest that they are causally linked. The present study investigates this, using the night-migratory blackheaded bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). We continuously monitored activity of male buntings exposed for 19 weeks to short (8 h light : 16 h darkness; 8L : 16D) and long (16L : 8D) photoperiods. Long, but not short, days induced the spring migratory phenotype. Another experiment investigated the role of testes in spring migration by comparing the development of Zugunruhe between intact and castrated buntings held on natural day lengths, at Meerut (India, 29°01′N, 77°45′E) during the period from March to October, thus covering the times of both the spring and autumn migrations. Testes were not involved in induction of the migratory phenotype but probably influenced the end of the migratory season, since castrates delayed the termination of the Zugunruhe.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (59) ◽  
pp. 638 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Rahman ◽  
JS Gladstones

Controlled environment studies of the effects of vernalization, photoperiod, and growing period temperatures were carried out on selected cultivars of four annual Lupinus species. All responded to both vernalization and photoperiod to varying degrees, and in at least two there were indications of an additional effect of growing period temperatures specifically on flower initiation. Flower initiation in L. angustifolius was found to be controlled mainly by its vernalization requirement, with subsidiary control by photoperiod. In L. cosentini vernalization, photoperiod, and an acceleration of initiation by high temperatures all appeared to play important roles, with critical control by photoperiod under short days. L. luteus responded strongly to both vernalization and photoperiod, but long days were able to substitute for vernalization to a marked degree. The results are discussed in the context of the ecology of lupins and the breeding of new crop cultivars.


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