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Flowering of Bromegrass, Bromus Inermis, in the Greenhouse as Influenced by Length of Day, Temperature, and Level of Fertility 1
Author(s) -
Evans Marshall,
Wilsie C. P.
Publication year - 1946
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1946.00021962003800100008x
Subject(s) - bromus , bromus inermis , citation , horticulture , agronomy , library science , biology , forage , computer science , poaceae
I A breeding program with smooth bromegrass, Bromus inermis, initiated in ~937 at the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, it has been desirable to make certain controlled pollinations in the greenhouse during the winter months. For several years some difficulty has been encountered in obtaining normal flowering of certain strains brought in from the field nursery in the autumn. In ~943, a study was initiated to determine the conditions under which the better flowering could be obtained. In ~9eo, Garner and Allard (3) 3 pointed out the importance of the relative length of day and night, and also of temperature, as affecting the initiation of flowering in certain plants. Soybeans studied by Steinberg and Garner (6) showed a different photoperiodic response at low and at high temperatures. Benedict (2), studying four prairie grasses, found that these species could be induced to flower in the greenhouse in the winter by controlling day length and temperature. Roberts and Struckmeyer (5) showed that a large number of species grown in long-day and short-day environments have different photoperiodic responses at different temperatures. Plants grown from cuttings of flowering plants responded differently than did seedlings. A change in the environment during the growth of some species, alfalfa for example, appeared to aid in obtaining the most desirable plant development. Allard and Evans (~), studying several species of grasses, found that smooth bromegrass was a long-day type of plant. No flowering occurred with photoperiods up to ~3 hours. With an increase of the daily photoperiod beyond ~3 hours, flowering became more profuse and the stems grew taller and more erect. Withrow and Benedict (7), studying greenhouse annuals, found that ~o-foot candles of light were sufficient for maximum response for the additional hours of light beyond the natural day length. The_importance of an abundant supply of soil nutrients for normal growth and reproduction has long been recognized.