Chilling privation during dormancy period and carbohydrate mobilization in Japanese pear trees

Authors

  • Anderson Carlos Marafon Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros; Unidade de Execução de Pesquisa de Rio Largo
  • Idemir Citadin UTFPr
  • Luciano do Amarante UFPel; Instituto de Química e Geociências
  • Flávio Gilberto Herter UFPel; Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel; Depto. de Fitotecnia
  • Fernando José Hawerroth Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162011000400011

Keywords:

Pyrus pyrifolia, carbohydrates, floral bud abortion, cell wall acid invertase, sucrose-phosphate synthase

Abstract

The flower bud abortion is one of the main problems that limit commercial pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) production in the southern region of Brazil. Insufficient chilling during the dormancy period is known as the main factor of this problem. One of the hypotheses to explain this problem is that the starch mobilization and carbohydrate fluxes to the buds are impeded when mild temperatures occurred during winter. This study compared the total soluble sugars (TSS) and reducing sugars (RS) concentrations, the cell wall acid invertase (CWAI - EC 3.2.1.26) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS - EC 2.4.1.14) activities in wood of branches and floral buds of Japanese pear trees cv. Housui, grafted on Pyrus calleryana and submitted to chilling conditions during the dormancy period. Treatments were: (i) natural conditions; (ii) continuous artificial chilling; (iii) alternating temperatures, and (iv) total chilling privation. TSS and RS contents, as well as CWAI and SPS activities in tissues of branches that received insufficient chilling were lower than those that received sufficient chilling during winter. The starch concentration was superior in wood tissues of branches kept under chilling privation. The chilling privation disturbs carbohydrate mobilization in pear trees, reducing the sucrose synthesis capacity in wood tissues (source) and sucrose importation by the floral buds (sink).

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Published

2011-08-01

Issue

Section

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

How to Cite

Chilling privation during dormancy period and carbohydrate mobilization in Japanese pear trees . (2011). Scientia Agricola, 68(4), 462-468. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162011000400011