Influence of Photoperiods upon the Differentiation of Meristems and the Blossoming of Biloxi Soy Beans

Abstract

1. Young Biloxi soy beans were grown for about a month on a long photoperiod. These long-day plants were divided into eight series, each receiving a different short photoperiod. Plants from each series were returned to natural day after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 days. 2. Stimulation of two short photoperiods was sufficient to alter the course of development of the growing points in such a way that differentiation of flower primordia resulted. 3. The length of the photoperiod influenced the time of blossoming, since the plants receiving intermediate photoperiods blossomed earlier than those receiving either the extremely long or short photoperiods used in this experiment. 4. The number of days that the plants received these various treatments influenced the time of blossoming. Plants treated for 8 days blossomed earlier than those treated for only 6 days. 5. Meristems of plants growing on long day are described and compared with the meristems of those growing on short day. 6. The first visible response t...