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THE RESPIRATION OF ARUM SPADIX. A RAPID RESPIRATION, RESISTANT TO CYANIDE
Author(s) -
JAMES W. O.,
BEEVERS H.
Publication year - 1950
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1950.tb05160.x
Subject(s) - botany , cyanide , respiration , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry
It has long been known that the spadix of Arum has an unusually fast rate of respiration while the inflorescence is developing. Church (I908) speculated that the resulting rise of temperature within the opening spathe, amounting almost to 0zo C. in A. italicum, might have biological significance in attracting pollinating insects to the flowers; but the metabolic mechanism of the respiration has not previously been studied. Van Herk (I937) has made a notable investigation of the corresponding tissue in the tropical aroid Sauromatum, and his results will be discussed after describing our own.