Plants transition from vegetative to reproductive growth through a complex process regulated by internal hormones and external environmental factors like light, temperature, and nutrient availability.
Here’s a simple explanation:
- Vegetative Phase:
- The plant focuses on growing leaves, stems, and roots.
- This stage allows the plant to build enough energy and resources through photosynthesis.
- Triggering Factors:
- When the plant reaches maturity, signals such as day length (photoperiod), temperature (vernalization), and hormonal changes trigger the transition.
- For example, long days or short days depending on the species can initiate flowering.
- Hormonal Regulation:
- Florigen, a flowering hormone produced in leaves, moves to the shoot tip and signals the plant to start forming flowers.
- Gibberellins and cytokinins also promote flower development, while auxins help direct growth toward reproductive structures.
- Reproductive Phase:
- The shoot apical meristem (the growing tip) changes its activity—from producing leaves and stems to producing flowers or inflorescences.
- Energy is now directed toward producing flowers, fruits, and seeds.
- Outcome:
- The plant’s main goal shifts from growth to reproduction—ensuring the next generation through seed formation.
In short, the transition happens when environmental cues and internal signals tell the plant that conditions are right to reproduce rather than continue vegetative growth.