STUDIES ON ANATOMY OF THE FLOWER BUD DIFFERENTIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURD OF BROCCOLI

The anatomy of the floral bud differentiation and the curd development of broccoli (Bras-sica oleracea var. italica)was studied with dissected microscope and scanning electric microscope. The outermost lateral scape primordia developed first and then the inner primordia. Following the development of the first order lateral scape primordia,the second and third order lateral scape primordia differentiated. Then ,the floral primordia initiated. Though the development of the fourth order lateral scape primordia was very few, the fifth order lateral scape primordia would still differentiate in a few cases. As to the inner part, the lateral scape primordia could only differentiate the first or the second order. Later on,the apex of main scape differentiated into flower primordia and developed into floral bud. The curd of broccoli was an organ product that was consisted of a complex racemose inflorescence with shortened and fleshy main scape and many branch curds. Every branch curd was developed from shortened and fleshy lateral scape of first order or/and other order lateral scapes with the floral buds located on them. The size and weight of the broccoli curd was determined by the number of branch curd and the differentiated orders of lateral scape. The larger number of the branch curds and the lateral scapes was the important morphological index. As the branch curds and their lateral scapes were well developed, the potential production will be obtained. The aim of thes paper is to show with the anatomical point of view that the development of broccoli curd and the differentiation of the lateral scape of branch curds can be regulated in order to get the high quality and quantity of broccoli curd.