ABSTRACT
As with every other aspect of plant growth, temperature is of paramount importance for flower and inflorescence development with both quantitative and qualitative effects. Increase in temperature usually tends to speed development towards anthesis, the rate of morphological development of reproductive structures being more rapid at higher temperatures. Different temperature optima are required for successive stages of flower development. In a few species low temperature treatment causes flower bud abortion. Aberrant numbers of floral parts in Silene coeli-rosa appear more frequently at high and low than at intermediate temperatures. The first unambiguous demonstration of the importance of the temperature in sex expression was by J. P. Nitsch and associates with 'Acorn' squash. Water stress reduces the rate of floral organogenesis of the lateral spikelet primordia of barley, but a slow persistent differentiation of these spikelets continues, even during severe stress.
