Flower Bud Differentiation in Response to Low Temperature Treatment and Day-length Extension Treatment in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Flower bud differentiation by temperature and photoperiod was investigated in early-, medium-, and late-maturing cultivars of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Flower bud differentiation was induced by only day-length extension treatment (18 hr light/day) in early and medium-maturing cultivars. Therefore, the earlyand medium-maturing cultivars of radish were advanced the time of the flowering by the 2 weeks low temperature duration with day-length extension (18 hr light/day). The vegetative growth of earlyand medium-maturing cultivar was the best by only day-length extension (18 hr light/day). However, late-maturing cultivar was needed for the flower bud differentiation and optimal vegetative growth not only long-day but also low temperature during 4~6 weeks at least. Our results suggest the optimal condition for flower bud differentiation in the each early-, medium-, and late-maturing cultivars of radish, which will be useful to develop breeding materials of radish.