Open AccessInteraction of Source-Sink Relationship for Translocation and Distribution of C14 Carbohydrates in Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.)
Author(s) -
Tae Hyun Kim,
Chiwon W. Lee
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.39.4.867b
Subject(s) - chromosomal translocation , seedling , greenhouse , biology , main stem , sink (geography) , horticulture , botany , shoot , biochemistry , cartography , gene , geography
The pattern of C 14 carbohydrate translocation and distribution from source leaf to various plant parts in watermelon grown in the greenhouse and field was investigated. Seedling-grown plants were pruned to have two branches with only one of them carrying a fruit. When leaves at four different positions (on fruit-bearing node, on fifth node above and below it, and on fifth node from the base of the non-fruit-bearing stem) were exposed to 14 CO, the distribution of C 14 2 compounds to different parts (fruit, stem, leaf, root) of the plant varied. In all treatments, the fruit was the strongest sink, followed by stem, leaf and root tissues. The highest percentage of C 14 photo-assimilates was transferred out of the source when the leaf borne on the fruit-bearing node was exposed to 14 CO 2 in both greenhouse and field grown plants. Translocation of C 14 compounds from the leaves on the fifth node above and below the first fruit-carrying node was similar. Only 29% of C 14 was transferred from the source leaf borne on the fifth node of the non-fruit bearing branch in the greenhouse, as compared to more than 46% of C 14 from other source leaves. Accumulation of C 14 in the root tissues was highest when source leaves were borne on the non-fruit bearing branch. In general, field-grown plants had higher percentages of C 14 translocated as compared to greenhouse-grown plants.