Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 9.2
Scanning electron micrographs of stages of bud
development. (
a
) Vegetative apex showing five leaf
primordia - remainder removed (
62),1.8.74. (
b
) Apex becoming
domed and ridges arising in axils of four leaf/bract primordia
remainder removed (
×
118),15.8.74. (
c
) Longitudinal section at an
early stage of flower development showing the 'king' flower at the
apex (
×
80),21.8.74. (
d
) Floral apex showing bourse bud and three
lateral flower primordia. The five sepals forming on the uppermost
flower initial can be easily seen. Subtending leaves and 'king'
flower removed (
×
47),19.9.74. (Photos by Jane Reeves). From Abbott
(1977). Reproduced with permission.
×
Differentiation of the growing point
The first detectable change in the growing point of the bud after induction of
flowering is increased synthesis of DNA and RNA (Buban and Faust,
;
Faust,
).Thefirstvisiblesignofdifferentiationiswhentheflatapicalmeris-
tem becomes domed, then the central meristem is partitioned and the pith
meristem develops. The reproductive meristem becomes a block-like structure
