VEGETATIVE AND FLOWERING RESPONSES OF MIMULUS TO PHOTOPERIOD AND TEMPERATURE

Growth chamber studies were conducted to determine growth and development responses of mimulus, cultivar 'Royal Velvet', to photoperiods of 8 and 16 h and an 8 h day temperature of 27 degrees C and a 16 h night temperature of either 5 degrees C or 18 degrees C. The 16 h photoperiod plants bloomed in 69 and 92 days from seeding at night temperatures of 18 degrees C and 5 degrees C, respectively. Some floral development also occurred at the 8 h photoperiod and 18 degrees C night temperature 115 days from seeding. No flowering occurred at the 8 h photoperiod and 5 degrees C night temperature. Plants grew in a rosetted fashion under the 8 h photoperiod and in an elongated growth pattern in the 16-h photoperiods.