The Coordination of Organ Growth in Developing Citrus Flowers: A Possibility for Sink Type Regulation

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Abstract
The interrelationships between simultaneously developing organs of citrus flowers were investigated. Examination of flower organ growth kinetics shows that petals grow mainly through enhanced water absorption whereas ovaries accumulate a high percentage of dry matter. Using excised flowers implanted in an agar—sucrose medium and supplied with [14C]-sucrose, [3H]-acetate, and [14C]-acetate, a characteristic distribution of label among organs could be established for each isotope. Wounding or application of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to a single petal completely changed the normal distribution patterns, shifting the bulk of [14C]-sucrose towards the treated organs. The findings are interpreted in the light of the ‘sink’ hypothesis. It is proposed that each flower organ meristem creates a sink of its own which acts in a typical manner according to its specific endogenous hormonal balance. The sink activity of all meristems in concert results in a sensitive regulatory mechanism which is responsible for the coordination observed in flower development.

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