Note: This page is no longer being maintained and is kept for archival purposes only.
For current information see our main page.
Garden with Insight Kurtz-Fernhout Software
Developers of custom software and educational simulations.
Home ... News ... Products ... Download ... Order ... Support ... Consulting ... Company
Garden with Insight
Product area
Help System
Contents
Quick start
Tutorial
How-to
Models

Garden with Insight v1.0 Help: Plant params flowering group

Heat unit index when vegetative phase ends: The heat unit index at which the purely vegetative phase of growth ends and floral induction is possible.

Heat unit index when reproductive allocation started: The heat unit index at which allocation of new biomass (dry weight) to reproductive plant parts (reproductive meristems, inflorescences, flowers, and fruits) began (if it has begun).
Floral induction minimum temperature: The lowest temperature at which photothermal units are accumulated for floral induction. If the air temperature is below this number, flowering is delayed.

Floral induction optimal temperature: The best temperature for accumulation of floral induction photothermal units. Flowering will occur the fastest (according to temperature) if the air temperature is at this number.

Floral induction maximum temperature: The highest temperature at which photothermal units are accumulated for floral induction. If the air temperature is above this number, flowering is delayed.
S Curve - effect of hours of darkness on fraction of floral induction day: Fraction of floral induction day (Y) accumulated based on the hours of darkness (X) in that day. For short-day (long-night) plants the curve increases; for long-day (short-night) plants the curve decreases; for day-neutral plants the curve is flat.

Floral induction photothermal units required: The number of photothermal units (accumulated days of optimal temperature and photoperiod) required to trigger (induce) the reproductive state. Days accumulate according to the optimal temperature and the floral induction S Curve for photoperiod.

Floral initiation thermal units required: The number of thermal units (accumulated days of optimal temperature) required to carry out the switch from vegetative to reproductive mode and the creation of reproductive meristems. The optimal temperature for growth is used for the optimal temperature.
Biomass allocation to flowers and fruits at maturity, by weight: The fraction by weight of the total plant biomass (dry weight) that the plant will attempt to allocate to reproductive structures (inflorescences, flowers and fruits) at maturity, if flowering occurs.

Fruit biomass daily decay fraction at plant maturity, by weight: Amount of the plant's total fruit biomass (dry weight) decaying each day at maturity. The daily decay fraction rises linearly from zero (at halfway between the first reproductive allocation and plant maturity) to this daily fraction (at maturity).
Vernalization requirement: Whether this plant's flowering is accelerated ('speeds things up') or allowed ('necessary') by a period of time when air temperatures are cold. The second-year flowering of many biennial plants such as onions and carrots depends on vernalization.

Vernalization minimum temperature: The highest temperature at which vernalization (facilitation of flowering by cold temperatures) occurs. Typically around zero degrees C.

Vernalization optimal temperature: The best temperature for vernalization (facilitation of flowering by cold temperatures). Typically around two or three degrees C.

Vernalization maximum temperature: The highest temperature at which vernalization (facilitation of flowering by cold temperatures) occurs. Typically around five degrees C.

Vernalization thermal units required: Thermal days required to complete vernalization (facilitation of flowering by cold temperatures). Since one thermal day represents one full day at the optimal vernalization temperature, the fastest vernalization needs this number of days to complete.

Groups list

Home ... News ... Products ... Download ... Order ... Support ... Consulting ... Company
Updated: March 10, 1999. Questions/comments on site to webmaster@kurtz-fernhout.com.
Copyright © 1998, 1999 Paul D. Fernhout & Cynthia F. Kurtz.