Vernalization

What Does Vernalization Mean?

In vernalization, seedlings or seeds are deliberately exposed to colder temperatures in order to promote plant flowering and development. This is because the buds and seeds of several plants thrive on the cold in order to break through apathy or dormancy. According to planters, a partial germination of the seeds followed by vernalization has even been shown to aid winter wheat produce a crop twice in the same year.

Maximum Yield Explains Vernalization

The process of vernalization is especially important for plants that grow in temperate climates. Biennial plants, for example, require cold exposure to easily transition from a vegetative to reproductive state. In fact, biennial crops do not set seeds or flower without vernalization.

Additionally, vernalization has been shown to prevent a plant from flowering under inadequate conditions. The period of time during which vernalization is required varies from plant to plant, but in most cases, this process is induced early fall and continues until spring. When it comes to biennial plants, it is also important to wait until the plant has reached a certain size in order to start vernalization. Contrary to popular belief, vernalized plants do not flower immediately after the process is induced. In most cases, this stage occurs weeks after vernalization.