Sugar uptake into kernels of tunicate tassel-seed maize

Conference · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:5841522

Thomas, P A; Felker, F C; Crawford, C G ^[1]

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1. USDA, Peoria, IL (USA)

A maize (Zea mays L.) strain expressing both the tassel-seed (Ts-5) and tunicate (Tu) characters was developed which produces glume-covered kernels on the tassel, often born on 7-10 mm pedicels. Vigorous plants produce up to 100 such kernels interspersed with additional sessile kernels. This floral unit provides a potentially valuable experimental system for studying sugar uptake into developing maize seeds. When detached kernels (with glumes and pedicel intact) are placed in incubation solution, fluid flows up the pedicel and into the glumes, entering the pedicel apoplast near the kernel base. The unusual anatomical features of this maize strain permit experimental access to the pedicel apoplast with much less possibility of kernel base tissue damage than with kernels excised from the cob. ({sup 14}C)Fructose incorporation into soluble and insoluble fractions of endosperm increased for 8 days. Endosperm uptake of sucrose, fructose, and D-glucose was significantly greater than that of L-glucose. Fructose uptake was significantly inhibited by CCCP, DNP, and PCMBS. These results suggest the presence of an active, non-diffusion component of sugar transport in maize kernels.

• OSTI ID: 5841522
• Report Number(s): CONF-9007196--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA) Journal Volume: 93:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CEREALS
DISACCHARIDES
GRAMINEAE
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KERNELS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAIZE
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROSE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UPTAKE