Effects of Light Quality on Tiller Production in Lolium spp.

Abstract

Variations in phytochrome status in grasses were provoked by end of day red and far-red treatments and above canopy irradiations. Lolium perenne L. and Lolium multiflorum Lam. plants developed more tillers when illuminated with higher red/far-red ratios. These results show that branching of grasses is controlled by phytochrome activity in a way similar to that in dicotyledon plants.