Agronomy Degree Practice Exam

What term describes the process of exposing a plant to a cold period to initiate reproductive growth?

1. Chilling

2. Vernalization

3. Scarification

4. Stratification

The correct answer is: Vernalization

Vernalization is the correct term for the process of exposing a plant to a prolonged cold period in order to promote flowering and reproductive growth. This phenomenon is critical for many plant species that require a specific chilling period to ensure successful flowering in the following growing season. During vernalization, the cold temperature induces physiological changes in the plant, enabling it to transition from a vegetative state to a reproductive state. Chilling typically refers to the cold temperatures that many plants need to endure but doesn't specifically denote the requirement for reproductive development. Scarification involves physically breaking dormancy in seeds, often by abrading the seed coat, while stratification refers to the process of subjecting seeds to a period of moist, cold conditions to simulate natural winter conditions, which helps in breaking seed dormancy. Neither scarification nor stratification directly addresses the cold exposure needed for inducing flowering, which clarifies why vernalization is the appropriate term in this context.