Shortening the juvenile phase for flowering in Kalanchoe pinnata Pers

Abstract

Plants of Kalanchoe pinnata flower normally at the end of 2 years. Flowering in the juvenile phase (3- and 9-month-old plants) has been induced by application of gibberellin (GA) either to the shoot tip and the youngest pair of leaves, or to the third leaf. Three-month-old plants required more exogenous GA (50 μg/plant) than 9-month-old plants (5 μg/plant). The simultaneous application of the growth retardant (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride=CCC via the roots did not interfere with GA-induced flowering but overcame the inhibitory effects produced by a high concentration of GA (150 μg/plant) when applied alone.