Effects of Day Length and Light Intensity on Growth of Barley IV. Genetically Controlled Variation in Response to Photoperiod

Abstract

Apical growth, floral development, stem elongation, tillering, and dry weight at ear emergence were compared for 10 varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) growing in a range of photoperiods. All the varieties could be described as quanti. tative long. day plants but there was a wide range of response to the photoperiod. In all the varieties and over all photoperiods, apical primordium production was linked with floral organogenesis, suggesting a common mechanism of photoperiodic influence on the two proce~es. The control of internode elongation, however, varied between different varieties, commencing at a much earlier stage of floral organogenesis in some varieties than in others. Tillering appeared to be controlled more by the amount of energy available for photosynthesis than by any photoperiodic process, and this was also an important factor in shoot dry weight at ear emergence.