Osservazioni Sullo Sviluppo di Lagurus Ovatus L.

Abstract

Observations on the development of LAGURUS OVATUS L. — Populations of Lagurus ovatus in Puglia shaw dwarf and tall specimens in flower at the same time. To investigate this phenomenon experiments were carried out in the phytotron at Florence in conditioned rooms and greenhouses, and also outdoors, using caryopses collected from both dwarf and tall plants and kept separate throughout. Results were as follows:

1. Lagurus ovatus did not produce flowers with a photoperiod of 8 hrs of light per day, but flowered when the daily illumination was 12 or 16 hrs.

2. The alternation of a short and a long photoperiod was unnecessary to induce flowering at 20°C.

3. In controlled environment no difference could be detected between plants obtained from fruits of the dwarf plants and those from fruits of the tall.

4. In the greenhouse the plants attained maximum development, flowered at the same time, despite different germination dates and showed no difference in size.

5. In the experiments in the open different germination times gave plants of different size which flowered at the same time. The size was dependent on the time of germination. It is concluded that difference in size of individual plants, as seen in Puglia, is determined by the time of germination. This may be any time from September to February-March but even the late-germinating plants can attain maturity for, as it has been shown, Lagurus ovatus can flower in as little as three months time provided it has been subjected to a low temperature and to a sufficiently long day (at least 12 hrs of light) for about a month.

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Ornella Vergnano Gambi

Diretto dalla Prof.ssa E. Francini Corti