An Analysis of the Influence of Temperature during Germination on the subsequent Development of certain Winter Cereals and its Relation to the Effect of Length of Day

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Abstract
Germination of winter rye at temps. a little above freezing-point hastens flowering if plants are sown in spring, but not if the day is artificially shortened to 10 hrs. or the plants are sown in winter. Artificial shortening of the day after germination at 1[degree]C retarded differentiation of flower primordia, but hastened it a little after germination at 18[degree]C, although long days are then necessary to complete the process of flowering. In spring rye germination temp. does not affect the rate of flower production which is more rapid than in winter rye germinated at 1[degree]. Short days inhibit flowering. Reduction of N-supply had no effect on flowering but retarded vegetative growth. Reduction of K-supply slightly delayed flower differentiation after germination at 18[degree]C. No causal relationship was found between flowering and the concentration of sugars or of N in leaves. In winter rye, day length and germination temp. interact in the determination of the minimal number of leaves formed before differentiation of flower primordia begins, and the rate of growth of the meristematic tissue: hence, in long days, low temp. germination hastens flower initiation, but this effect is not manifested in short days; while after germination at high temps., short days lead to earlier differentiation of flower primordia. In spring rye there is no temp. after-effect. When differentiation of flower primordia has begun, short days retard and long days hasten further development. If ear emergence is the criterion, rye is a long-day plant, but if differentiation of flower primordia is considered, then winter rye after germination at high temp. can be called a "short day" plant.

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