Environmental Control of Initiation of the Inflorescence, Reproductive Structures, and Proliferatiosn in Poa bulbosa

Youngner, Victor B. (U. California, Los Angeles.) Environmental control of initiation of the inflorescence, reproductive structures, and proliferations in Poa bulbosa. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(9): 753–757. Illus. 1960.—Environmental factors controlling inflorescence initiation and development of inflorescence proliferations were studied using controlled environments. Inflorescence initiation was promoted by long days (16 hr.) following vernalization of 1 wk. or more'at 10°C. Normal florets developed under high temperatures (21°–27°C.) and long days following initiation. Bulbils developed in place of normal florets at short days (8 hr.) and low temperatures (ca.20°C, or below). Long days and low temperatures or short days and high temperatures produced panicles containing both bulbils and normal florets. Two flower-promoting stimuli are proposed; one promoting inflorescence initiation and the second promoting floret differentiation. Both stimuli appear to be quantitative in their mode of action.