Cyanide-Insensitive Respiration in Thermogenic Flowers ofVictoriaandNelumbo

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Abstract
The thermogenic carpellary appendages of the flowers of Victoria cruziana d'Orb. and the thermogenic staminal appendages of Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) Pers. possess the cyanide-insensitive, ‘alternative’ respiratory pathway. The presence of this pathway was demonstrated in tissue slices as well as in mitochondria. The thermogenic activity was accompanied by ultrastructural changes in the Victoria mitochondria. Before anthesis, mitochondria with well-developed cristae were present in appendage tissue in large numbers. During anthesis, lamelliform cristae appeared in a different orientation.