Effect of decapitation, phosfon D and cycocel on the flowering of Impatiens balsamina exposed to varying numbers of short days

Abstract

Impatiens balsamina L., a qualitative short day plant, requires more short days for the development of floral buds into flowers than for their initiation. Phosfon D and cycocel reduce the number of short days required for flowering, increase the number of floral buds and flowers and delay their reversion to vegetative growth when transferred to noninductive conditions. The effect of decapitation of the main shoot subsequent to the emergence of floral buds resembles that of retardants indicating that the effect of the latter in flower promotion in this plant may be by virtue of their effect on cessation of apical dominance as a consequence of which reserve food materials may be channeled to axillary floral buds enabling them to develop into flowers.