Vernalization response of Phleum pratense and its relationships to stem lignification and floral transition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Timothy is a long-day grass species well adapted for cultivation in northern latitudes. It produces elongating tillers not only in spring growth but also later in summer. As the quantity and quality of harvested biomass is dictated by canopy architecture and the proportion of stem-forming flowering tillers, the regulation of flowering is of great interest in forage grass production.

Methods

Canopy architecture, stem morphology and freezing tolerance of vernalized timothy were investigated in greenhouse and field experiments. The molecular control of development was examined by analysing the relationship between apex development and expression of timothy homologues of the floral inducer VRN1 and repressor VRN2.

Key results

True stem formation and lignificati

SUBMITTER: Seppanen MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2958789 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature