An appraisal of the use of reciprocal transfer experiments: assessing the stages of photoperiod sensitivity in chrysanthemum cv. Snowdon (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany Vol. 49; no. 325; pp. 1405 - 1411
• Main Authors: Adams, Steven R., Pearson, Simon, Hadley, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.08.1998; OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biology and morphogenesis of the reproductive apparatus. Photoperiodism, vernalisation; chrysanthemum; Datasets; Economic plant physiology; Flowering; Flowering, floral biology, reproduction patterns; Flowers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and development; Horticulture; Inflorescences; Juvenility; Leaves; Meristems; Photoperiod; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Plants and the Environment; Reciprocal transfer; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification; Induction; Reciprocity; Plant juvenile growth stage; Environmental factor; Photoperiod; Compositae; Plant; Sensitivity; Chrysanthemum; Dicotyledones; Light; Angiospermae; Transfer; Flowering; Spermatophyta; Measurement method
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/49.325.1405

Reciprocal transfer experiments can be used to describe the stages of photoperiod sensitivity in daylength-sensitive plants. However, there are inconsistencies in the literature concerning the techniques used and, more importantly, the assumptions made when analysing such data sets. This paper appraises the use of reciprocal transfer experiments, with chrysanthemum as a model (short day) plant. Experiments showed little evidence to suggest that axillary meristems were incapable of responding to a floral stimulus when released from apical dominance by pinching (even though the apex appeared vegetative). Five short days given after pinching resulted in sufficient induction to initiate an inflorescence, although seven short days were required to commit a plant to flower with a leaf number similar to plants grown in continuous short days. Floral initiation was then visible at the apex after nine short days. Once the inflorescence had been initiated, long days delayed the early stages of flower development. The results are discussed with reference to reciprocal transfer experiments in general, and specifically in relation to problems that arise when the length of a `juvenile' phase is confounded with the number of inductive cycles for flower commitment.