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Effects of shading on inflorescence size and development in temperate perennial grasses
Author(s) -
RYLE G. J. A.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1967.tb04439.x
Subject(s) - inflorescence , biology , lolium perenne , perennial plant , shoot , shading , light intensity , temperate climate , botany , poaceae , agronomy , festuca rubra , art , physics , optics , visual arts
SUMMARY Single plants of S24 perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and S215 meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis Huds.) were transferred between, or exposed continuously to, contrasting light intensities obtained by decreasing the natural light in a glasshouse with Tygan shades. Inflorescence development in main shoots was studied by dissections of shoot apices, and by counts of branches and florets when ears emerged. Apical growth was slower, and spikelet initiation and inflorescence development were delayed or inhibited, in decreased light intensities. The number of main branches in the ear depended on the rate of apical growth before and after spikelet initiation, and on the time of spikelet initiation. In meadow fescue these processes were influenced by light intensity. Floret numbers per inflorescence branch were generally decreased by decreased light intensity. Most of the effects of light intensity on inflorescence development were smaller in ryegrass than in meadow fescue.