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 μl 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.