The association of carbohydrate changes in the shoot tip of cauliflower with flowering.

Changes in levels of sugars and starch in the shoot tip of cauliflower, Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis D. C. cv. Main Crop were studied during periods of growth which were inductive or non-inductive to flowering. Flowering was induced by growing plants for 2 weeks under 16 hr of light at 5 degrees . During this period of floral induction there was a significant increase in sugar and starch content compared to that in vegetative plants grown at 20 to 26 degrees . Sugar and starch content did not increase and flowering was prevented when light and CO(2) were excluded during growth at 5 degrees . A 3-day dark period at 20 degrees or a high temperature treatment at 33 degrees with light following growth at 5 degrees reduced the carbohydrate level and prevented flowering.