ISSN:
1432-2145
Keywords:
Asparagus
;
Growth regulators
;
Peroxidases
;
Sex differentiation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Using an immunological method we assayed the levels of auxin, abscisic acid and three cytokinins (transzeatin riboside, dihydrozeatin riboside, isopentenyladenosine) in flowers of female and male plants of Asparagus officinalis L. at different stages of development. The largest differences between the sexes were found for auxin: auxin content was found to be about three times higher in young male flowers than in female flowers at a corresponding developmental stage. In order to identify some of the biochemical markers linked to sex differentiation, we also examined peroxidase isoenzyme patterns during flower development. We found five flower-specific peroxidase bands, three of which appear to be localized in the anthers. In young flowers still sexually undifferentiated in their morphology these bands are present in both sexes. They subsequently rapidly disappear in the female flower (approximately at the same time as when anther development is blocked), while they persist for a much longer time in the male. The temporary presence of these peroxidase isoenzymes in female young flowers together with the large difference in auxin content indicate that the stage of the young flower is a crucial moment in the process of sex determination.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00202881
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