Control of flower formation
Schwemmle, B.
Arzneimittel-Forschung 30(11a): 1970-1974
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4172 PMID: 7194049 Document Number: 158579
The flower formation, i. e., the change of vegetative to generative development is a far-reaching turning-point for the higher plant. Accompanied by basic transformation of metabolism, flower formation leads to development of stamen and carpel, i.e. the fundamental structure for propagation. For plants that die after fructification flower formation therefore means the 'beginning of the end'. The determination of flower formation is a problem highly recognized by plant physiologists: The most important partial process in this physiological development is the transformation of the vegetative point which usually produces foliage leaves. As a consequence of this transformation the primordia are formed (morphogenesis). The change in information is controlled by a flower-hormone which is produced in the leaves and transported to the vegetative point where it activates the so-called 'flowering-genes'. There is no positive information on the chemical structure of flower hormones. Other factors of flower formation control will be discussed.