Skip to main content
Plant Physiology logoLink to Plant Physiology
. 1986 May;81(1):26–29. doi: 10.1104/pp.81.1.26

Characterization of Water Stress and Low Temperature Effects on Flower Induction in Citrus 1

Stephen M Southwick 1, Thomas L Davenport 1
PMCID: PMC1075276  PMID: 16664786

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with containerized `Tahiti' lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) trees in order to define conditions needed to induce flowering. Cyclical or continuous water stress for 4 to 5 weeks induced flowering. Moderate (−2.25 megapascals, midday) or severe (−3.5 megapascals, midday) water stress as measured by leaf xylem pressure potential, for as little as 2 weeks induced flowering, but the response was more significant in severely stressed trees. Low temperature (18°C day/10°C night) induced a time dependent flowering response much like that of moderate water stress. Significantly negative leaf xylem pressure potentials as compared to controls were found only under water stress treatment, suggesting that a common stress-linked event, separate from low plant water potential is involved in floral induction. Leafless, immature cuttings from mature, field-grown trees were induced to flower by water stress treatment, suggesting that leaves are not essential for a flower inductive response.

Full text

PDF
27

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alvim P. de T. Moisture Stress as a Requirement for Flowering of Coffee. Science. 1960 Aug 5;132(3423):354–354. doi: 10.1126/science.132.3423.354. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Scholander P. F., Bradstreet E. D., Hemmingsen E. A., Hammel H. T. Sap Pressure in Vascular Plants: Negative hydrostatic pressure can be measured in plants. Science. 1965 Apr 16;148(3668):339–346. doi: 10.1126/science.148.3668.339. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. de la Roche A. I. Increase in linolenic Acid is not a prerequisite for development of freezing tolerance in wheat. Plant Physiol. 1979 Jan;63(1):5–8. doi: 10.1104/pp.63.1.5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Plant Physiology are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES