The Effect of Meteorological Conditions on Anthesis in Agricultural Grasses

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Abstract
The effects of air temperature, relative air humidity, light intensity, and wind were investigated on plants in pots, including Alopecurus, Dactylis, Festuca, Lolium, and Phleum. Anthesis was positively related to temperature and light, by which it was activated. These factors did not seem to reach above optimal values under the conditions of the experiment, i.e. daily average temperature not exceeding 20° C. and daily average light intensity not exceeding 2, 800 ft.-c. Under these conditions wind hindered anthesis and became inhibitory between 13−19 km.p.h. Relative air humidity did not have a significant direct effect, but it casually inhibited anthesis through reducing light intensity, or through precipitation. Environmental effects may exceed varietal differences; the latter were also significant and seem to be of genetical origin. It is suggested that grasses be grouped according to the velocity of their physiological responses to environmental effects, and that the groups may be called ‘quick-staminating’ and ‘show-staminating’. Additional characteristics are described to promote this distinction between the groups. It is noted that factors which are operative in anthesis also affect plant temperatures in the same way. The possible application of the results are discussed.

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