Direct electric current partly replaces the chilling effect in vernalisation of winter wheat

Partly vernalised plantlets of Triticum aestivum var. Grana, cultivated in vitro, were subjected for varying lengths of time to electric current of different voltages with the anode (+) attached to the first leaf and the cathode (-) to the medium and vice versa. Twenty-four hours after the treatment, the plantlets were planted into the pots. The percentage of reproductive plants and their time to heading was recorded. The positive electric current greatly increased (in the range of 60 to 90%) the percentage of generative plants as compared to the controls (5%) almost irrespective of the voltage and duration of the treatment. The reverse polarity (-) exerted a much weaker effect. The time to heading was almost unchanged by the electric treatments. It was deduced that the effect of electric current replaced part of the chilling requirement and shifted the developmental state to reproductive phase. The experiments are in progress to elucidate the interaction between electric current and chemical signals that may be involved in flower induction.