Valdez, Ella Joy D.

September 17, 2013

Vernalization

Light has a profound influence on plants and it performs many important biological
processes like photosynthesis, phototropism, photorespiration, photoperiodism, etc. Influence
of light on plants in flowering is very fascinating, but not all the plants respond and flower to
photoperiodic treatments. Similar to light, the temperature also has significant effects on plant
growth, dormancy and flowering. Most of the metabolic processes are regulated by the
temperature that is prevailing in the environment. But the effect of temperature in inducing the
development of reproductive organs is fascinating.

As mentioned earlier, different plants have different cycles of vegetative growth,

flowering and fruiting. However, some biennials which produce vegetative structures in one
season and induce flowering in the flowering season only after they are exposed to prolonged
winter or cold treatment. Interestingly, such cold requiring plants also need proper
photoperiodic treatment for flowering. Such biennial plants can be made to flower in the same
season by subjecting them to cold treatment. Hence the process of acquiring the ability or
capacity to accelerate the process of flowering, in response to cold treatment is referred to as
Vernalization.

Objectives:

1) To recognize the temperature as a significant factor for plant growth and

flowering.
2) To obtain the idea of vernalization.
3) To grasp the knowledge on how cold/low temperatures affects the flowering of
plants.

Materials:

6 empty bottles of C2

6 red onion bulbs

Tap water

Blade/knife
Procedure

1. Clean the bottle and put water into it.

2. Second, peel the onion and a slice a very small sheath at the bottom of onion
bulb where roots are expected to grow.
3. And place it on the prepared bottle where there is water.
4. Lastly, place it inside the refrigerator. Observe it for 6 days.

Observation

Place inside the Refrigerator

Day 2 Day 3 Day 6

Onion 1

Onion 2

Onion 3

At the normal room temperature

(Control Group)

Day 2 Day 3 Day 6

Onion 1

Onion 2

Onion 3

Picture of the set-up

BEFORE AFTER
 (Inside the refrigerator)

BEFORE AFTER

(At the normal room Temperature)

Questions

1. How does temperature affects the stimulation of flowers/leaves in the onion?

Explain briefly.

2. What type of plant hormone that is believed to be present in vernalization process?

3. In the vernalization process, what are the optimum temperatures that are required by
plants?

4. Explain why vernalization is important to the plants and how it helps the community
farmers in producing a high quality form of products.

Conclusion