Phytohormones level in the leaves of Hyoscyamus niger L. during variable photoperiods at the time of flower initiation and differentiation

Abstract

The investigations concern changes in the content of endogenous phytohormones in the leaves of the long-day plant Hyoscyamus niger L. during variable photoperiods applied before and after flower initiation. The results show that alternation of inductive photoperiods with short days leads to quantitative changes in the content of phytohormones. The changeable photoperiod leads to a general decrease in the contents of gibberellins, cytokinins and auxins during the short noninductive days both before and after flower initiation. Alternation of the inductive photoperiod with short days does not influence the content of abscisic acid-like substances before flower initiation and causes an increase of the amount of inhibitors in the postinductive period. The content of hormonal substances is subjected to rhytmical changes related to the periods of light and darkness in the twenty-four hours' cycle.