The Induction of Reproductive Development by Environment

Abstract

One of the most intriguing steps in morphogenesis is the formation of the flower, cone, or other reproductive structure. There are many aspects to the problem. First, does reproductive development occur in response to some change in the external environment? The answer for many species is an unqualified “yes”. Second, what are the events that take place within the plant that translate some environmental change into a redirection of growth? If the response is to light, what chemical factors inform the plant of whether the lights are on or off? If flowering comes about in response to hormonal changes, what are these hormones and how are they synthesized? Third, what is reproductive differentiation? What happens at the meristematic sites when they stop growing vegetatively and become reproductive?