VERNALIZATION IN SUMMER/AUTUMN CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA-OLERACEA VAR BOTRYTIS L)

The effect of a range of temperatures on the progress of plants towards curd initiation was studied using data from field experiments designed to produce a wide range of temperatures. A model describing the effect of temperature on vernalization rate by linear relationships using four cardinal temperatures was proposed to predict changes in the diameter of the growing point with time, and hence, the time of curd initiation. A method was developed to estimate the parameters of the model from continuously varying temperatures encountered in the field.