Skip to main content
PMC home page
Plant Physiology logoLink to Plant Physiology
. 1982 Jul;70(1):322–325. doi: 10.1104/pp.70.1.322

Source-Sink Relations in Maize Mutants with Starch-Deficient Endosperms 1

Karen E Koch 1,2,2, Chi-Lin Tsui 1,2,3, Larry E Schrader 1,2, Oliver E Nelson 1,2
PMCID: PMC1067137  PMID: 16662473

Abstract

Partitioning and translocation of photosynthates were compared between a nonmutant genotype (Oh 43) of corn (Zea mays L.) and two starch-deficient endosperm mutants, shruken-2 (sh2) and brittle-1 (bt1), with similar genetic backgrounds. Steady-state levels of 14CO2 were supplied to source leaf blades for 2-hour periods, followed by separation and identification of 14C-assimilates in the leaf, kernel, and along the translocation path. An average of 14.1% of the total 14C assimilated was translocated to normal kernels, versus 0.9% in sh2 kernels and 2.6% in btl kernels. Over 98% of the kernel 14C was in free sugars, and further analysis of nonmutant kernels showed 46% of this label in glucose and fructose. Source leaves of mutant plants exported significantly less total photosynthate (24.0% and 36.3% in sh2 and bt1 compared to 48.0% in the normal plants) and accumulated greater portions of label in the insoluble (starch) fraction. Mutant plants also showed lower percentages of photosynthate in the leaf blade and sheath below the exposed blade area. The starch-deficient endosperm mutants influence the partitioning and translocation of photosynthates and provide a valuable tool for the study of source-sink relations.

Full text

PDF
323

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Dickinson D. B., Preiss J. Presence of ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase in Shrunken-2 and Brittle-2 Mutants of Maize Endosperm. Plant Physiol. 1969 Jul;44(7):1058–1062. doi: 10.1104/pp.44.7.1058. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Heldt H. W., Chon C. J., Maronde D. Role of orthophosphate and other factors in the regulation of starch formation in leaves and isolated chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. 1977 Jun;59(6):1146–1155. doi: 10.1104/pp.59.6.1146. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Housley T. L., Schrader L. E., Miller M., Setter T. L. Partitioning of C-photosynthate, and long distance translocation of amino acids in preflowering and flowering, nodulated and nonnodulated soybeans. Plant Physiol. 1979 Jul;64(1):94–98. doi: 10.1104/pp.64.1.94. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Mondal M. H., Brun W. A., Brenner M. L. Effects of Sink Removal on Photosynthesis and Senescence in Leaves of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Plants. Plant Physiol. 1978 Mar;61(3):394–397. doi: 10.1104/pp.61.3.394. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Outlaw W. H., Fisher D. B., Christy A. L. Compartmentation in Vicia faba Leaves: II. Kinetics of C-Sucrose Redistribution among Individual Tissues following Pulse Labeling. Plant Physiol. 1975 Apr;55(4):704–711. doi: 10.1104/pp.55.4.704. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Preiss J., Lammel C., Sabraw A. A unique adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase associated with maize embryo tissue. Plant Physiol. 1971 Jan;47(1):104–108. doi: 10.1104/pp.47.1.104. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Shannon J. C. Carbon-14 Distribution in Carbohydrates of Immature Zea mays. Kernels Following CO(2) Treatment of Intact Plants. Plant Physiol. 1968 Aug;43(8):1215–1220. doi: 10.1104/pp.43.8.1215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Shannon J. C. Movement of C-Labeled Assimilates into Kernels of Zea mays L: I. Pattern and Rate of Sugar Movement. Plant Physiol. 1972 Feb;49(2):198–202. doi: 10.1104/pp.49.2.198. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Thorne J. H., Koller H. R. Influence of assimilate demand on photosynthesis, diffusive resistances, translocation, and carbohydrate levels of soybean leaves. Plant Physiol. 1974 Aug;54(2):201–207. doi: 10.1104/pp.54.2.201. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Tsai C. Y., Nelson O. E. Starch-deficient maize mutant lacking adenosine dephosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase activity. Science. 1966 Jan 21;151(3708):341–343. doi: 10.1126/science.151.3708.341. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Plant Physiology are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES