ABSTRACT
A. Ramina and co-workers showed that inflorescence development in Bougainvillea is a direct function of leaf area, a relationship expected if photosynthetic assimilates limit development. Photosynthesis is promoted at high irradiance since, when CO2 levels are normal, there is increased dry weight gain in plants compared to those in low irradiance. V. K. Sawhney and B. G. Cumming applied ascorbic acid or dichlorophenol-indophenol, two compounds that overcome 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea-induced inhibition of photosynthesis, at the end of the SD-inductive treatment and found that flowering is restored to normal. Inflorescence development as a function of nutrient diversion to competing sinks has been studied extensively in Bougainvillea by indirect and direct methods. However, young leaf removal reduces growth regulator supply to apical tissues and this may also contribute to increased inflorescence development. Many studies show that environmental conditions resulting in reduced carbohydrate levels also result in repression of male organ development in hermaphroditic, monoecious, and dioecious species, with little effect upon female organs.
