Premium
Assimilation and translocation of nitrogen and carbon in Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep
Author(s) -
Khuankaew T.,
Ruamrungsri S.,
Ito S.,
Sato T.,
Ohtake N.,
Sueyoshi K.,
Ohyama T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00229.x
Subject(s) - rhizome , curcuma , biology , photosynthesis , botany , horticulture , sowing , chromosomal translocation , carbon assimilation , ornamental plant , biochemistry , gene
Curcuma or Siam tulip ( Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep.) is an ornamental flowering plant with two underground storage organs, rhizomes and storage roots. Characteristics of N and C assimilation and transport in curcuma were investigated. The plants were treated with 15 NH 4 + + 15 NO 3 − and 13 CO 2 at 10, 13 or 21 weeks after planting. Plants were sampled at several stages up to 32 weeks. The C stored in old storage roots was used rapidly during the first 10 weeks; after which N stored in old rhizomes and old storage roots were used. The daily gain in C depending on photosynthesis was remarkably high between 10 and 21 weeks. However, the daily gain in N was relatively constant throughout the growth period. The 15 N absorbed at 10 weeks was initially accumulated in leaves and roots, but some was transported to flowering organs at 13 weeks. At harvest, 41% of 15 N was recovered in new rhizomes and 17% in new storage roots. After 13 CO 2 exposure at 10 and 13 weeks, the distribution of 13 C among organs was relatively constant in subsequent stages. When given 13 CO 2 at 21 weeks, a large amount of labelled C was recovered in new storage roots and new rhizomes at harvest. Both new rhizomes and new storage roots stored N and C, however, rhizomes played a more important role in supplying N, while storage roots provided C.