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Enhanced inflorescence development in tomato by growth substance treatments in relation to 14 C‐assimilate distribution
Author(s) -
Leonard Maggy,
Kinet JeanMarie,
Bodson Monique,
Bernier Georges
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1983.tb00734.x
Subject(s) - inflorescence , lycopersicon , biology , shoot , botany , photosynthesis , limiting , gibberellin , competition (biology) , horticulture , mechanical engineering , ecology , engineering
Inflorescence development in tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. King Plus) grown under a low‐light regime is promoted by exogenous applications of a mixture of N 6 ‐benzyladenine (BA) and gibberellins A 4+7 (GA) directly on the inflorescence. The photosynthetic rate of the young mature leaf, which feeds the developing inflorescence, and the proportion of 14 C‐assimilates exported from the source leaf are not affected by the growth substance treatment, but the pattern of 14 C‐assimilate distribution is altered. Assimilate supply to the treated inflorescence increases concomitantly with a decrease in the 14 C import into the apical shoot, reflecting a competition between these two plant parts. The increased assimilate accumulation in the treated inflorescence is apparent 1 day after the first application of BA+GA, and precedes any morphological changes in the reproductive structure. These results are discussed in relation to nutritional hypotheses that regard assimilate supply as limiting for reproductive development.