noun
- A hypothetical plant hormone or signal that promotes flowering in response to environmental conditions such as day length or temperature.
Usage: biology; botany; technical
Examples
- Scientists have long searched for florigen, the mysterious substance that triggers flowering in plants.
- The discovery of florigen-like proteins has advanced our understanding of how plants sense seasonal changes.
- Researchers believe florigen is produced in the leaves and transported to the shoot apex to initiate flowering.
- The concept of florigen dates back decades, though its exact molecular identity remained elusive for many years.
- Modern genetic studies have identified candidate genes for florigen in model plants like Arabidopsis.