Flowering induction of Guzmania by ethylene

Ethylene exposure time required to induce flowering of Guzmania lingulata Mez. 'Anita' was investigated by exposing plants to ethylene at 100 mu l l(-1) for 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, or 24 h. Plants were also exposed to ethylene-free air for the same lengths of time. Plants exposed to ethylene for 4 h did not flower, but exposure for 6 h or longer resulted in 100% flowering. Suppression of endogenous ethylene synthesis by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) resulted in a longer exposure time of 20 h being required to obtain 100% flowering. This result suggests that endogenous ethylene production contributes substantially to floral induction. Ethylene treatment on a single young leaf induced flowering as well. Application of a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, prevented flowering induced by ethylene, indicating that activation of ethylene responsive genes is followed by synthesis of new proteins involved in flowering. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.