Vernalization, Photoperiodic Induction, and Flower Initiation in the Late Pea Cultiv Ar Greenfeast

Abstract

The events related to the leaf requirement (induction) in the late pea cultivar Greenfeast are separate from events (evocation) between induction and initiation of the first flower. Photoperiod influences induction, whilst vernalization influences evocation. Vernalization represses synthesis of the graft-transmissible floral inhibitor present in unvernalized plants where it delays rapid evocation. Nothing is known of the biochemistry of the floral inhibitor although there is some preliminary histo-chemical evidence which suggests an interesting relationship between presence of inhibitor and RNA content in the apex.