XVI International Botanical Congess

Floral induction in plants is paradigm for physiological response. The introduction of T-DNA (Ri-T- DNA) into the genes of several plants results in the modification of flowering. Conjugated polyamines, which account for 90 % of total polyamines , are the markers for flowering in numerous species of higher plants. Cichorium intybus L.cv.Lucknow local an indian cultivar of witloof chicory finds its commercial application as a coffee additive. Using chicory we have explianed the possibilty of a correlation between the expression of T-DNA(Ri-T-DNA) and changes in polyamine metabolism. We show that delaying in flowering is correlated with the reduction in polyamine accumulation and delay in appearing of conjugated polyamine.