Enhanced Inflorescence Development in <i>Bougainvillea</i> “San Diego Red” by Removal of Young Leaves and Cytokinin Treatments

Abstract

Removal of young leaves and application of the cytokinin, N-benzyla-alpha-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2yl)-adenine promote inflorescence development in Bougainvillea "San Diego Red". Defoliation greatly increased the amount of assimilate accumulated at the shoot tip 1 to 2 days after treatment. Cytokinin applications further increased the amount accumulated and this increase was apparent 4 days before morphological changes could be detected at the inflorescence axes. Short days promoted inflorescence development and also increased assimilate accumulation at the reproductive axes; thus, it is suggested that the role of short day induction in bougainvillea may be that of redirecting the flow of assimilates, perhaps by its influence on cytokinin synthesis and distribution.