1399-3054/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=9580f9134678b7883de2b89f08ae3ab0994a9cb7 "Physiologia Plantarum")
present address: Worcester College, Henwick Grove, Worcester, W22 6AJ, UK
1399-3054/asset/olbannerleft.gif?v=1&s=fd621b5efef6a7ad337be9e4bc4716a2ffbb1a67)
1399-3054/asset/olbannercenter.gif?v=1&s=d2485742638f3b98746f9e8640df52d1860027e3)
Cellular and morphological changes at the terminal shoot apex of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil during the transition to flowering
Article first published online: 28 APR 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1992.tb01315.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Herbert, R. J., Francis, D. and Ormrod, J. C. (1992), Cellular and morphological changes at the terminal shoot apex of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil during the transition to flowering. Physiologia Plantarum, 86: 85–92. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1992.tb01315.x
- †
present address: Worcester College, Henwick Grove, Worcester, W22 6AJ, UK
Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 APR 2006
- Article first published online: 28 APR 2006
- Received 24 February, 1992; revised 27 May, 1992
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Floral transition;
- Pharbitis nil;
- phyllotaxis;
- red-light;
- shoot apex;
- shortday plant
Changes in morphology and measurements of cell doubling time were recorded for the first time in the terminal shoot apex of the short-day plant, Pharbitis nil Chois. (Ipomea nil L.) cv. Violet, undergoing the floral transition. A treatment comprising 48 h darkness given to 4-day-old plants resulted in 100% flowering at the shoot terminal meristem. An inhibitory treatment comprising two 5 min red night-breaks during the 48 h dark period was used to discriminate between events essential for flowering, and those changes resulting from shifts from light to darkness and vice versa. Morphology was studied using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Cell doubling times were measured using the colchicine accumulation of metaphases method. An increase in the rate of primordial initiation, a change in the divergence angle and a change in phyllotaxis occurred during the floral transition. Moreover, the apex widened and flattened following the inductive dark treatment; the cell doubling time decreased in the peripheral zone and increased in the central zone of these pre-floral meristems.