Metabolic Changes in Gladiolus Cormels During the Break of Dormancy: The Role of Dark CO2 Fixation

Dark CO(2) fixation in Gladiolus X gandavensis Van Houtte cormels increases during the break of dormancy by low-temperature storage or by cytokinins. The in vitro activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in preparations from dormant and nondormant cormels were compared with dark fixation rates in vivo. The distribution of (14)C-label in the carboxylation products in dormant, nondormant, water-imbibed, and benzyladenine- and abscisic acid-treated cormels was compared by pulse-chase experiments. Dormant cormels have more label in malate and less in citrate and amino acids. Malate utilization in dormant cormels is slower than in nondormant ones. Citrate and glutamine accumulate in dormant cormels in inactive pools. Benzyladenine induces in dormant cormels changes similar to cold storage. Dark fixation is among the first reactions which are activated during the break of dormancy by both benzyl adenine and cold storage.