Long-day plants and short-day plants
Plants are divided into two categories, long-day plants and short-day plants;
Long-day plants are plants that bloom after a certain number of days with a light period longer than a certain critical length per day.
Generally in the range of 12 to 16 hours, the longer the day, the faster the flowering, and can also bloom under continuous light, such as barley, wheat, spinach, etc.
In fact, it is the length of the dark period that affects the flowering of long-day plants, so it can also be called "short-night plants".
Under natural conditions, they generally bloom and bear fruit in the season when the length of the day gradually changes from short to long.
Short-day plants Plants that bloom after a certain number of days with a short daily light period of less than a certain critical length.
Within a certain range of critical day length, the shorter the day length, the faster the flowering. For example, Xanthium, perilla, soybeans, etc.
In fact, the main factor that determines the flowering of short-day plants is the length of the dark period every day, so it can also be called "long-night plants".
Under natural conditions, they generally bloom and bear fruit during the season when the day length gradually changes from longer to shorter.
Long-day plants and short-day plants play an important ecological role in nature, and together they maintain the photoperiod balance of the Earth's biosphere.
In the spring, as the temperature gradually rises, the long-day plants begin to feel the extended amount of light. At this time, the biological clock in the body of the long-day plants begins to adjust, prompting them to enter the flowering stage.
As the flowers bloom, they scatter their seeds in a suitable environment for growth, preparing them for a new round of life cycle.
The presence of long-day plants provides abundant food for insects** and also helps to maintain species diversity in the ecosystem.
In autumn, short-day plants feel the shortening of their light hours, and their biological clocks begin to adjust and enter the flowering period.
Short-day plants bloom in the season when the light hours are getting shorter, which helps their seeds mature in a shorter time, thus increasing the success rate of seed dispersal.
The blooming of short-day plants also provides abundant food for insects**, helping to maintain the stability of the ecosystem.
Under artificial cultivation conditions, one can control the flowering time of long-day and short-day plants by adjusting the light time.
For example, in greenhouses, by adjusting the light time, long-day plants can be encouraged to bloom in winter, thus meeting people's demand for crops such as vegetables and fruits.
Similarly, short-day plants can also be used to encourage them to bloom during unnatural seasons by adjusting the light hours, such as planting short-day plants indoors to enjoy beautiful flowers on special occasions such as Chinese New Year.
In conclusion, long-day and short-day plants play a vital role in the ecosystem, ensuring the prosperity and diversity of the biosphere by adapting to different light conditions.
Understanding and studying these two types of plants is of great significance for us to better understand and protect the earth's ecological environment.