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Photoperiodic induction of synchronous flowering near the Equator

Author

Listed:
  • Rolf Borchert

    (University of Kansas)

  • Susanne S. Renner

    (Ludwig Maximilians University)

  • Zoraida Calle

    (Center for Research on Sustainable Agriculture CIPAV)

  • Diego Navarrete

    (Fundacion Puerto Rastrojo)

  • Alan Tye

    (Charles Darwin Research Station)

  • Laurent Gautier

    (Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève)

  • Rodolphe Spichiger

    (Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève)

  • Patricio von Hildebrand

    (Fundacion Puerto Rastrojo)

Abstract

In tropical rainforests, 30–65% of tree species grow at densities of less than one individual per hectare1. At these low population densities, successful cross-pollination relies on synchronous flowering. In rainforests with low climatic seasonality, photoperiodic control is the only reliable mechanism for inducing synchronous flowering2,3. This poses a problem because there is no variation in day length at the Equator. Here we propose a new mechanism of photoperiodic timekeeping based on the perception of variation in sunrise or sunset time, which explains and predicts the annually repeated, staggered, synchronous and bimodal flowering of many tree species in Amazonian rainforests near the Equator.

Suggested Citation

  • Rolf Borchert & Susanne S. Renner & Zoraida Calle & Diego Navarrete & Alan Tye & Laurent Gautier & Rodolphe Spichiger & Patricio von Hildebrand, 2005. "Photoperiodic induction of synchronous flowering near the Equator," Nature, Nature, vol. 433(7026), pages 627-629, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:433:y:2005:i:7026:d:10.1038_nature03259
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03259
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