biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 39:223, 1997 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1000392803640

Source-sink relationship in Abelmoschus esculentum L.

R.M. Bhatt¹, N.K. Srinivasa Rao¹

¹ Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India

The ontogenetic changes in source-sink relation associated with the manipulation of reproductive sink at different positions on the plant in two okra cultivars (Arka Anamika and Pusa Makhamali) with distinct branching habit (cv. Arka Anamika tends to branch at the middle nodes unlike cv. Pusa Makhamali) were analysed. The cultivar differences for extension growth were nonsignificant except at treatment where all flowers and flower buds upto 8th mode were removed. The reproductive sink reductions resulted in a decrease of total dry matter accumulation per plant to an extent of 13 to 46% in Arka Anamika and 18 to 34 % in Pusa Makhamali. Fruits on the middle nodes appear to be prominent sinks for photo assimilates in cv. Arka Anamika. The reproductive sink manipulation did not result in any particular change in the trend of photosynthesis, but brought about a significant change in the partitioning of dry matter.

Keywords: cultivar differences; dry matter accumulation; internal CO2 concentration; leaf position; okra; photosynthetic rate; stomatal conductance

Prepublished online: March 1, 1997; Published: September 1, 1997  Show citation