PHOTOPERIODISM

The biological measurement of the relative lengths of day and night

Photoperiodism

Photoperiodism the response by an organism to synchronise its body with changes in day length At high latitudes this is important because the change in length of the day indicates the season Days getting shorter indicate winter is approaching Days getting longer indicate summer is approaching Some plants regulate their flowering this way

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

The control of flowering

Change in day length Photoperiod mechanism in the leaves Florigen hormone Flower buds

Flowering
2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

Response to day length

Response varies according to the age of the plant and varies in its intensity Broadly they can be grouped into three categories

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

Response to day length

RESPONSE '.$1#DA" P'A$TS DAY LENGTH 56#)- h EXAMPLES Red clover 5 6h .ats 5 )7h 8inter wheat 5 )7h Chrysanthemum ( )*h Tobacco ( )+h

SH.RT#DA" P'A$TS /0'.$1#$21HT3 P'A$TS4 DA"#$%&TRA' P'A$TS

( ),#)- h

Do not respond Cucumber to day length Holly ai!e

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

Response to day length

Some plants flower only after a CRITICAL DAY LENGTH Some plants only flower after a CRITICAL NIGHT LENGTH
Image Credit: Chrysanthemum

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

The night break phenomenon

9or plants with a critical night length: a short flash of light in the middle of the night would ma;e the plant behave as if it had been e<posed to a long day

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

The !ality of the light

The wavelength of the light used is important Wavelength SHORT-DAY LONG-DAY 5=,,nm Stimulates 2nhibits Reverses Stimulates

Colou 9ar red light

Red light -=, > -?,nm

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

The pigment
This indicated that there should be a pigment that absorbs ed light /in other words this pigment should be !lue-g een4 This pigment is the mechanism capable of recognising changes in day length

PHYTOCHROME

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

The photoperiod mechanism

Phytochrome e<ists in two versions which are inter#convertible PR that absorbs red light

P"R that absorbs far red light

RED LI !" PR F#R RED LI !" PFR

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

In the short"day plant

PFR
Dar$ness %slow& Far red light %'ast&

PR builds up (hort)day plants FL*RI E+ #ctivated FL*,ERI+

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

In the long"day plant

(unlight Red light

PFR builds up Long)day plants FL*RI E+

#ctivated

PR

FL*,ERI+
2010 Paul Billiet ODWS

S!mmary
(unlight Red light
PFR builds up

PR builds up Dar$ness %slow& Far red light %'ast&

Long)day plants FL*RI E+ #ctivated

(hort)day plants FL*RI E+ #ctivated

FL*,ERI+

FL*,ERI+

2010 Paul Billiet ODWS