Photoperiodism: 1. Short Day Plants

15.
PHOTOPERIODISM
Photoperiodism is the phenomenon of physiological changes that occur in plants in

response to relative length of day and night (i.e. photoperiod). The response of the plants to
the photoperiod, expressed in the form of flowering is also called as photoperiodism. The
phenomenon of photoperiodism was first discovered by Garner and Allard (1920). Depending
upon the duration of photoperiod, the plants are classified into three categories.
1. Short day plants (SDP)
2. Long day plants (LDP)
3. Day neutral plants (DNP)
1. Short day plants
These plants require a relatively short day light period (usually 8-10 hours) and a
continuous dark period of about 14-16 hours for subsequent flowering. These plants are also
known as long-night plants
E.g. Rice, coffee, soybean, tobacco and chrysanthemum
• In short day plants, the dark period is critical and must be continuous. If this dark
period is interrupted with a brief exposure of red light (660-665 nm wavelength), the
short day plant will not flower.
• Maximum inhibition of flowering with red light occurs at about the middle of critical
dark period.
• However, the inhibitory effect of red light can be overcome by a subsequent exposure
with far-red light (730-735 mm wavelength)
• Interruption of the light period with red light does not have inhibitory effect on
flowering in short day plants.
• Prolongation of the continuous dark period initiates early flowering.
2. Long day plants

These plants require longer day light period (usually 14-16 hours) in a 24 hours cycle
for subsequent flowering. These plants are also called as short night plants.
E.g. Wheat, radish, cabbage, sugar beet and spinach.
• In long day plants, light period is critical
• A brief exposure of red light in the dark period or the prolongation of light period
stimulates flowering in long day plants.
3. Day neutral plants
These plants flower in all photoperiod ranging from 5 hours to 24 hours continuous
exposure.
E.g. Tomato, cotton, sunflower, cucumber, peas and certain varieties of tobacco.
During recent years, intermediate categories of plants such as long short day plants
and short long day plants have also been recognized.
i. Long short day plants

These are short day plants but must be exposed to long days during early periods of
growth for subsequent flowering. E.g. Bryophyllum.
ii. Short –long day plants
These are long day plants but must be exposed to short day during early periods of
growth for subsequent flowering. E.g. certain varieties of wheat and rye.
Differences between short day and long day plants
Short day plant Long day plant
1 Plants flower when photoperiod is less Plants flower when photoperiod is more
than the critical day length than the critical day length
2 Interruption during light period with Interruption during light period with
darkness does not inhibit flowering darkness inhibit flowering
3 Flowering is inhibited if the long dark Flowering occurs if the long dark
period is interrupted by a flash of light period is interrupted by a flash of light
4 Long continuous and uninterrupted dark Dark period is not critical for flowering
period is critical for flowering
5 Flowering does not occur under Flowering occurs under alternating
alternating cycles of short day and short cycles of short day followed by still
light period. shorter dark periods
Phytochrome
It is observed that that a brief exposure with red light during critical dark period
inhibits flowering in a short day plant and this inhibitory effect can be reversed by a
subsequent exposure with far-red light. Similarly, prolongation of the critical light period or
the interruption of the dark period stimulates flowering in long-day plants.
This inhibition of flowering in short day plant and stimulation of flowering in long
day plants involves the operation of a proteinaceous pigment called phytochrome. It is
present in the plasma membrane of cells and it has two components, chromophore and
protein. Phytochrome is present in roots, coleoptiles, stems, hypocotyls, cotyledons, petioles,
leaf blades, vegetative buds, flower tissues, seeds and developing fruits of higher plants.
The pigment, phytochrome exists in two different forms i.e., red light absorbing form
which is designated as Pr and far red light absorbing form which is designated as Pfr. These
two forms of the pigment are photo chemically inter convertible. When Pr form of the
pigment absorbs red light (660-665 nm), it is converted into Pfr form. When Pfr form of the
pigment absorbs far red light (730-735 nm), it is converted into Pr form. The Pfr form of
pigment gradually changes into Pr form in dark.
It is considered that during day time, the Pfr form of the pigment is accumulated in
the plants which are inhibitory to flowering in short day plants but is stimulatory in long day
plants. During critical dark period in short day plants, this form gradually changes into Pr
form resulting in flowering. A brief exposure with red light will convert this form again into
Pfr form thus inhibiting flowering.
Reversal of the inhibitory effect of red light during critical dark period in SDP by
subsequent far-red light exposure is because, the Pfr form after absorbing far-red light (730-
354 nm) will again be converted back into Pr form.
Prolongation of critical light period or the interruption of the dark period by red- light
in long day plants will result in further accumulation of the Pfr form of the pigment, thus
stimulating flowering in long-day plants.
Differences between Pr and Pfr forms of phytochrome
Pr form Pfr form
1 It is blue green in colour It is light green in colour
2 It is an inactive form of phytochrome It is an active form of phytochrome
and it does not show phytochrome and hence shows phytochrome
mediated responses mediated responses
3 It has maximum absorption in red region It has maximum absorption in far-red
(about 680nm) region (about 730nm)
4 It can be converted into Pfr form in red It can be converted into Pr form in far
region (660-665nm) red region (730-735nm)
5 It is found diffused throughout the It is found in discrete areas of cytosol
cytosol
6 The Pr form contains many double The Pfr form contains rearranged
bonds in pyrrole rings double bonds in all pyrrole rings
Significance of photoperiodism
Photoperiodism is an example for physiological preconditioning. The stimulus is
given at one time and the response is observed after months. Exposure to longer photoperiods
hastens flowering (E.g). In wheat, the earing is hastened. During long light exposure, Pr form
is converted into Pfr form and flowering is initiated. If dark period is greater, Pfr is converted
into Pfr form that inhibits flowering.
The important phytochrome mediated photo responses in plants include
photoperiodism, seed germination, sex expression, bud dormancy, rhizome formation, leaf
abscission, epinasty, flower induction, protein synthesis, pigment synthesis, auxin
catabolism, respiration and stomatal differentiation.

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15.

Photoperiodism is the phenomenon of physiological changes that occur in plants in

1. Short day plants

2. Long day plants

i. Long short day plants

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