Albrechtova, J.T.P.

Wagner, Edgar

Walczysko, Petr

Wiedmann, Tanja

pH-distribution at the apical meristem changes in response to photoperiodic flower induction in the short-day plant Chenopodium rubrum. Relations of flower induction to metabolic activity of cells in the apical meristem were studied using applications of different glucose forms (D-glucose, L-glucose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose). Intracellular pH was visualized in vivo by means of a fluorescent pH-probe, carboxy SNARF-1. Average pH at the apex tended to decrease after almost all glucose treatments. After D-glucose treatment the typical pH-distribution changed differentially in vegetative and induced plants, with opposite effects at lower and higher concentrations. After treatments with the metabolically inactive deoxy-glucose the typical pH-distribution was less pronounced in most cases. The treatment with L-glucose produced changes in pH-patterning depending on concentration. Lower concentrations of the various glucose forms evoked generally stronger responses than higher concentrations. The results are indicative of a possible involvement of carbohydrate metabolism in the process of photoperiodic flower induction.

057-066