PROTOCOL

VERNALIZATION FOR ACCELERATED FLOWERING

(Protocol supplied by Dr. Jean Denarie)

Protocol supplied by Dr. Jean Denarie:
Seeds are scarified according to the germination protocol and placed on agar plates (10 g of agar per liter) and kept in a cold room (4 ° C) during two weeks. Germination starts during this cold treatment. First flowers appear 3 to 5 weeks after planting the germinated seeds (depending on growth conditions), and each node carries then 1 or 2 flowers giving pods containing in average 8 seeds.

(OR)

Cook lab modified protocol:
Acid scarify seed, and thoroughly rinse seed ~3-4 h, changing sterile water every hour. Place seed on sterile 3 mm filter paper saturated with sterile water. We use 150 mm diameter disposable plastic petri plates, for which 3mm paper can be cut to size and shape. Spread out seed using a sterile forceps to avoid seed clumps and contact with each other. Wrap petriplate with parafilm, invert plate (seed will stay attached to filter paper by surface tension). Place at 4 degrees C for 2-3 weeks. Typically, seedlings germinate during the cold treatment, and are 1-3 cm long, and ready for loading into a caisson or potting into soil. If seedlings have not germinated, or are less than 1 cm long, place at room temp, in the dark overnight-24 h, until they are at a suitable length. When grown in long daylight (14-16h light) conditions, first flowers should appear in 4-6 weeks. These plants are much more compact in growth and this will allow higher density growth (in 3 or 4 in pots).




Last Update March 2004
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