Scientists are not certain why some plantsneed longer periods of cold than others but they believe plants store this information and pass it on genetically. Come fall, do you like to go apple picking? This is because of a process known as vernalization. Apple and peach trees, tulips, daffodils, hollyhocks, foxgloves, and many other plants wouldn’t produce their flowers or fruit without vernalization. Keep reading to learn whyplantsneedvernalization. Vernalization in Plants – Site of vernalization. The metabolically active apical meristems are the sites of perception of temperature to initiate flowering. What Is Vernalisation? Vernalization is the process by which some plants require an extended period of exposure to cold temperatures before they can complete the flowering process. This adaptation enables flowering to take place at the appropriate time. In part 2 of a 5-part series of articles on vernalization of herbaceous perennials, this article discusses juvenility and different methods of delivering cold treatments to plants. What is Vernalization? This is basically relating to a process in which artificial exposure is very much needed. You need it for the proper growth of plants. That is for regions that are in low temperatures. It is done so to ensure that the plants are growing in a proper manner. The plants must need exposure to cold treatment for germination and flowering in plants, whether they grow at a high or low temperature. Vernalization occurs in two ways, namely facultative and obligate. Vernalization means "to make like spring", and is therefore the trigger for biennial plants to recognize that spring has, in fact, sprung. Whether seeds are vernalized in a fridge or vernalized frozen in the ground outside, the purpose is to help induce faster flowering and fruiting in the spring. Vernalization in Plants – The location of vernalization in plants. The apical meristems, which are metabolically active, are the areas where the plant perceives temperature changes, which allows it to begin flowering. Why do some plantsneedvernalisation? Vernalisation is an evolutionary adaptation that allows flowering plants to get a head start over their competition when the growing season starts in spring by germinating and starting their development in autumn before the cold of winter arrives. Why do plantsneedvernalization? Many plants use vernalization to coordinate their growth and flowering to their environment. Vernalization processes are different in different plant families (Ream et al. 2012). Kim and Sung (2014) found that exposure to long-term cold temperatures... Understanding Vernalization: Why Some Bulbs Need Chilling. Many spring-blooming bulbs have evolved to experience a period of winter dormancy followed by a spring awakening, a cycle triggered by extended exposure to cold. Garlic requires vernalization to reach its full potential. Garlic plantsneedvernalization (a period of chilling) to trigger the plants to develop the big, spicy bulbs we crave. Without vernalization, you can end up with pathetic bulbs or cracked cloves with very low yields. Now that we understand whyplantsneedvernalization, maybe we will look more favorably on cold winter temperatures.
