Articles
Effects of nitric oxide on phytohormone and carbohydrate levels in Litchi chinensis during floral differentiation
Article number
1447_17
Pages
141 – 146
Language
English
Abstract
Our previous studies suggested that sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, promotes flowering in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). To investigate the physiological mechanism of the SNP-promoted flowering, potted litchi trees, kept in a growth chamber at 12-h photoperiod with day/night temperatures of 18/13°C, simulating floral inductive conditions, were sprayed with SNP, and water as a control.
In another growth chamber at 12-h photoperiod with day/night temperatures of 26/23°C, simulating non-floral inductive conditions (control), potted trees were sprayed with water only.
Carbohydrates, phytohormones, maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and net photosynthetic rate were determined during the floral induction and initiation stages.
The results showed that the percentage of the flowering terminal shoots in the SNP-treated trees was higher than those of the control trees under 18/13°C conditions, while flowering in the control trees under high temperature conditions was zero.
SNP treatment did not significantly affect net photosynthetic rate.
SNP-treated trees had higher Fv/Fm levels than trees treated with water under 18/13°C conditions, suggesting that SNP treatment did not affect photosynthesis in litchi.
SNP treatment increased the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA) and the total soluble sugar contents in the leaves but decreased the level of gibberellin (GA1+3) in the leaves.
Compared with the water-treated trees under 18/13°C conditions, soluble sugar content and starch content in leaves of water-treated trees under 26/23°C conditions remained relatively low during the whole observation period.
The results suggest that nitric oxide promoted flowering might be related to increased ABA levels in litchi.
In another growth chamber at 12-h photoperiod with day/night temperatures of 26/23°C, simulating non-floral inductive conditions (control), potted trees were sprayed with water only.
Carbohydrates, phytohormones, maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and net photosynthetic rate were determined during the floral induction and initiation stages.
The results showed that the percentage of the flowering terminal shoots in the SNP-treated trees was higher than those of the control trees under 18/13°C conditions, while flowering in the control trees under high temperature conditions was zero.
SNP treatment did not significantly affect net photosynthetic rate.
SNP-treated trees had higher Fv/Fm levels than trees treated with water under 18/13°C conditions, suggesting that SNP treatment did not affect photosynthesis in litchi.
SNP treatment increased the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA) and the total soluble sugar contents in the leaves but decreased the level of gibberellin (GA1+3) in the leaves.
Compared with the water-treated trees under 18/13°C conditions, soluble sugar content and starch content in leaves of water-treated trees under 26/23°C conditions remained relatively low during the whole observation period.
The results suggest that nitric oxide promoted flowering might be related to increased ABA levels in litchi.
Authors
B. Zhou, Z. Hu, H. Chen, W. Liu
Keywords
litchi, sodium nitroprusside, flowering
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