SELECTED PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FLOWERING FACTOR IN EXTRACT FROM WHEAT EARS

Effect of various methods of treatment of the extract from immature ea rs on its ability to stimulate the generative development of winter wh eat embryos after suboptimal vernalization was investigated. The extra cts were centrifuged, heated to 120 degrees C for 20 min and treated w ith a detergent. Organic solvents (ethane 1, acetone and mixture of ch loroform/isopropanol) for extraction mixture were also used. The embry os were vernalized on MS nutrient containing extracts for 0, 7 and 14 day. Further vegetation was carried out in a glasshouse. Based on the number of heading and not heading but generatively differ entiated sho ot apex, the generative development of the plant was assessed. Moreove r, the length of the vegetative phase was also determined. It had been found that the flowering factor present in the extract from immature wheat ears is located outside heavy cellular structures containing sub stances that inhibiting the heading. The flowering factor proved to be thermostable, and high temperature even distinctly its activity. An a ddition of a detergent also stimulated the ability of the extract to i nduce the plants heading. Above procedures enabled heading of about 80 % plants after very short (7 days) vernalization. The flowering factor dissolved easier in water than in non-aqueous solvents, which may sho w that its hydrophilic properties prevail over the hydrophobic ones.