Some varieties of wheat are known as spring wheat while others are called winter wheat. Former variety is sown, and planted in spring and It is harvested by the end of the same season. However, winter varieties; if planted in spring, fail to flower or produce mature grains within a span of a flowering season. Explain, why?
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Ans: In some plants, flowering is either quantitatively or qualitatively dependent on exposure to low temperature. This phenomenon is called vernalisation. For example; wheat comes in two varieties, i.e. spring wheat and winter wheat. The spring wheat is sown, and planted in spring and is harvested by the end of the same season. During this period, this variety of wheat gets the desired exposure to low temperature. But if winter variety of wheat is planted in spring; it fails to get the desired period of low temperature. As a result, the plants fail to flower or produce mature grains within a span of a flowering season.