Observations of Effects of Partial Vernalization in Winter Rape Plants Grafted Onto Generative Stock

Abstract

Winter rape plants vernalized under natural conditions were used as stock for grafting apical and subapical parts of rape seedlings vernalized at 5 °C in light during different periods ranging from 0 to 10 weeks. Acceleration of generative development in both kinds of grafts occurred already after 3 weeks of their vernalization, i.e. after cold treatment of insufficient length to induce flowering in plants developing independently. Effectiveness of vernalization — measured by acceleration of flowering in grafts was highest from 3rd to 5th week of cold treatment and then it declined. Processes occurring during an early stage of vernalization, though insufficient to allow independent generative development, become manifest in grafts made on vernalized stock. This allows investigations of very early stages of vernalization processes inaccessible to observation by other methods.