Role of adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate in flowering of a short-day duckweed Lemna paucicostata 6746

Abstract

The well-known second messenger in animal systems, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), stimulated flowering in the short-day plant, Lemna paucicostata 6746, under both inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, when grown on modified Bonner and Devirian medium. Flowering could be achieved even in continuous light in the presence of cAMP, although the intensity of the response was still daylength-dependent. Besides flower induction, cAMP also enhanced their development. 5'-AMP and 5'-ATP also induced some flowering under non-inductive long days, but the response was weak as compared to that of cAMP. 5'-ADP, in contrast, had no effect whatsoever on flowering under long days, whereas a small effect was observed under inductive short days. What could be the probable mechanism of action of cAMP and whether its effect on flowering is mediated through the cAMP-adenylcyclase system, has been discussed.