Ontogeny and histochemistry of the intermediate and reproductive apices of Cosmos bipinnatus var. Sensation in response to gibberellin A3 and photoperiod

Abstract

Plants of Cosmos bipinnatus Cav. ‘Sensation’ (a quantitative short-day plant) were grown under continuous conditions favorable or unfavorable for flowering, and some plants in each group were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3). Floral apices of Cosmos are formed by the transition of previously vegetative apices. The vegetative apex shows a cytohistological zonation pattern superimposed upon a tunica–corpus organization. The vegetative apex passes into an intermediate stage presumed typical of many plants held under non-inductive conditions. This stage is marked by many cytological features characteristic of both reproductive and vegetative apices but leaves continue to be produced. The presence of the intermediate stage accounts for conflicting results obtained in physiological studies since there is great variation in response rate depending on age of plant and the stage of the apex at the start of an experiment. This stage is followed by a typical transitional stage marked by an increase in RNA content, increased mitotic activity, and a change in zonation. Elongation of the apex and internodes occurs followed by initiation of the involucral bracts and floret primordia, marking the beginning of the prefloral and inflorescence stages respectively.GA3 specifically induces Cosmos to flower under non-inductive conditions thereby influencing floral initiation in a facultative short-day plant. Microscopic examination of the rate of apical transition revealed that GA3 substituted effectively for short days but was not as efficient an inducer as were short days.