The Effect of Temperature on Carbohydrate Translocation in the Tomato Plant

Author: Hull, Herbert Mitchell

Year: 1951

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisors: Went, Frits W.; Bonner, James Frederick

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Biology

DOI: 10.7907/d2g3-v157

Abstract

The majority of experiments dealing with carbohydrate translocation in the higher plant have indicated a Q10 of more than one, that is, a greater transport at higher temperature. Certain of the exper1ments reported in this work have suggested that under certain conditions, in the tomato plant, a mechanism of translocat1on may be operative which acts almost independently of temperature, or even shows Q10 of less than one.

In addition to different Q10's for carbohydrate translocation, vastly different rates of movement have been found, ranging from less than 15 minutes to almost 48 hours, for transport to take place from one leaf to the roots, the growing point, or to the leaves. These experiments have been accomplished by utilizing the valuable tools of radioactive tracers, end a bleeding technique, which is described in the text.

Judging from the variety of results, concerning both temperature effect and rate, it appears unlikely that one mechanism of transport is sufficiently versatile to account for all data. On this basis, more precisely described in the text, the possibility of two mechanisms being operative in the same plant is suggested.

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