2003 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 249-256
The effects of combination of temperature and fruiting on development of flower and internal components were investigated. The number of flowers decreased by more than 50% after fruits appeared. In the 30-20°C (day-night) temperature, the number of flowers had decreased to 2.7% of the peak 31-40 days after the first flowering occurred. The flower and ovary weights decreased in the fruiting treatments, and those tendency were more marked at high temperatures. Short-styled flowers were observed only in the fruiting treatments. Fruit growth was best in the 20-20°C treatment. The number of seeds was highest in this treatment and lowest in the 30-30°C treatment. Dry matter partitioning ratio to roots decreased as the day or night temperature became higher. This change was more marked in the late stage and was accelerated by fruiting. After day 20, the nitrogen content in leaves tended to be higher in the flower thinning state than in the fruiting state, and it changed little over time. In both the flower thinning state and the fruiting state, the phosphorus level in leaves after day 40 was much lower in the daytime 30°C than in the daytime 15°C or 20°C treatments. The phosphorus level in the 30-30°C flower thinning state was less than half the level recorded in the 15-15°C treatment. Both the calcium level and the magnesium level were higher in the fruiting state than in the flower thinning state at any temperatures.
