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Shoot development, chlorophyll, gas exchange and carbohydrates in lychee seedlings (Litchi chinensis)

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Hieke, S., Menzel, C. M. and Lüdders, P. (2002) Shoot development, chlorophyll, gas exchange and carbohydrates in lychee seedlings (Litchi chinensis). Tree Physiology, 22 (13). pp. 947-953. ISSN 0829-318X

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/22.13.947

Abstract

Shoot growth, chlorophyll concentrations, gas exchange and starch concentrations were studied in lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) seedlings of cultivar “Wai Chee” grown in a heated greenhouse at Nambour in subtropical Australia (27° S). We also examined the effects of shoot defoliation and root pruning on leaf expansion. Shoot growth showed a rhythmic cycle under constant greenhouse conditions, with a mean duration of flushing of 20 days and an interval of 10 days over three cycles. Shoots and leaves expanded in a sigmoidal pattern to about 80 mm and 500 cm2, respectively, for each flush. Starch concentrations of the lower stem and roots decreased as the young red leaves expanded, and increased as the fully expanded leaves turned dark green. Chlorophyll concentrations and net CO2 assimilation rate were highest in the fully expanded dark green leaves.Removing 50% of the area of each fully expanded leaf had little effect on the expansion of younger leaves, but total biomass of defoliated plants was only 60% of that of controls. In contrast, removing half the roots just before bud swelling reduced final leaf area by 80%. We conclude that the young shoot has relatively low rates of photoassimilation until the leaves are fully expanded and dark green, and depends on assimilates from elsewhere in the plant. During leaf expansion, translocation of assimilates to the shoot occurred at the expense of the roots.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Business groups:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Keywords:leafdevelopment,leafremoval,netCO2assimilation, root pruning, shoot growth, starch.
Subjects:Science > Botany > Plant physiology
Plant culture > Food crops
Plant culture > Horticulture. Horticultural crops
Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture
Live Archive:04 Jan 2024 03:55
Last Modified:04 Jan 2024 03:55

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