Distribution of14C-labelled assimilates in flowering carnation plants

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Abstract
Individual leaves of carnation plants bearing terminal flowers were allowed to assimilate 14CO2, and 16 h later the distribution of radioactivity between the different parts of the plants was examined. When a leaf high on the shoot was the source, labelled assimilates moved mainly into the flower and stem. Movement into the flower was at a maximum in the two weeks preceding flower opening, when it accounted for about 70% of the 14C translocated from the leaf. Accumulation activity measured in terms of radioactivity per unit dry weight of tissue was high in the flower relative to the stem and was at a maximum in the early stages of flower development when the bud first became visible. Leaves low on the plant contributed labelled assimilates to the flower but in smaller quantities than leaves higher up. Movement of 14C into vegetative shoots developing from lateral buds below the flower was appreciable only where the shoots were axillary to leaves supplied with 14CO2. The lower leaves acted as sources of assimilates for the roots, but movement of 14C into the roots was very limited in flowering as compared with vegetative plants.

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