The effects of photoperiod, glucose and gibberellic acid on growth in vitro and flowering of Chenopodium murale

Abstract

In vitro culture of long-day plant Chenopodium murale L was established. The effects of photoperiod, glucose and gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on flowering and growth in vitro were investigated. Oscillatory changes of photoperiodic sensitivity were noticeable with regard to plant age. The plants induced at the phase of the 1(st) and the 3(rd) pair of leaves flowered to higher degree than those induced at the phase of 2(nd) pair. Plants induced at the phase of the 1(st) pair of leaves flowered to 17 % on 5 % glucose-containing medium and the addition of 5 mg dm(-3) GA(3) resulted in maximum flowering (43 %). Neither glucose nor GA(3) were able to compensate for photoperiodic requirements for flowering. Hypocotyl growth was decreased and the 1(st) internode elongation and development of leaves were increased due to inductive photoperiodic conditions, as compared to non-inductive ones.