The Developmental Physiology of Seed Plants

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Abstract
An attempt is made to trace the major events in the nutritional ontogeny of typical annuals, without implying that the nutritional status is the prime or causative factor in control of development. Environmental factors largely determine the balance between vegetative and reproductive processes. Temp. and the photoperiod largely determine initiation of reproduction. There is, however, an important interdependence between vegetative and reproductive processes, as seen by the failure of photoperiodic induction in the absence of photosynthesis or in the presence of large amts. of growth substances. Certain inherent or autogenous factors come into play during development, and some processes, like flower formation, progress more or less independently of the environment. These stages offer possibilities for isolation and identification of specific formative compounds. There is interest in the identification of additional morphogenetic agents and their relationship to specific metabolism, as for example the role of auxin in water balance and mineral nutrition. The mechanism is being studied whereby unsaturated hydrocarbons can induce flowering. The prepn. of a natural active extract from corn which initiates reproduction upon injn. into other plants is an important advance. Developmental physiology has contributed considerably to a knowledge of plants.

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