| Abstract Detail
McDonnell, April L. [1], Owen, Henry R. [1], Coons, Janice M. [1]. Floral initiation and development of the Illinois endangered species, Iliamna remota, with different photoperiods. ILIAMNA remota Greene (Malvaceae) is an endangered species in Illinois where it is endemic and isolated to Langham Island in the Kankakee River. Little is known about the floral biology of this species. The objective of this study was to determine how photoperiod affects floral initiation and development. Iliamna remota seeds were obtained from Prairie Moon Nursery. Seeds were dipped into hot water (80ºC) for ten seconds to break dormancy, and planted 1 cm deep in Jiffy® soilless seedling mix in cell packs (5x5x5cm) in two trays. Trays were placed into growth chambers at 25ºC with one photoperiod of 8h/16h (light/dark) at 656 µmol/m2/sec light intensity and another photoperiod of 16h/8h (light/dark) at 332 µmol/m2/sec light intensity. One seedling was transplanted into each of 32 round plastic pots (13x15cm) per chamber. Plants were fertilized biweekly with Peter’s® 20-20-20 at 1.25g/L. Plant heights plus numbers of leaves, flower buds, and flowers at anthesis were recorded weekly. After 17 weeks, plants growing with 16h light showed a significantly greater mean height (74cm), number of leaves (43), buds (11), and flowers (6) than mean height (20cm) and number of leaves (24) of plants growing with 8h light. Plants with an 8h light photoperiod did not develop flowers or buds. Buds were first observed during week 11 and anthesis was first observed during week 13 on plants grown with the 16h light photoperiod. Thus, plants require long days for floral initiation and development, providing useful information for future pollination studies to determine the breeding mechanism (selfing vs. crossing) of this rare species. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Eastern Illinois University, Department of Biological Sciences, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, Illinois, 61920-3099, USA
Keywords: Malvaceae.
Presentation Type: Array Session: 48-38 Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 Time: 12:30 PM Abstract ID:770 |