ISHS Acta Horticulturae 381: International Symposium on Natural Phenols in Plant Resistance
STIGMATIC PHENOLS AND FLOWER RECEPTIVITY IN KIWI (ACTINIDIA DELICIOSA). |
| Authors: | M.V. González, M. Coque, M. Herrero |
| Abstract:
In kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) the duration of flower receptivity has been evaluated. Flowers of different ages have been pollinated and, in these flowers, stigma receptivity has been determined by assessing their capability to sustain pollen germination. Pollen germinates profusely when flowers are pollinated at anthesis or in the four days that follow. However, receptivity sharply decreases five days after anthesis. An histochemical study of the stigma puts forward that kiwi presents a wet stigma with papillae that are rich in phenolic compounds. These phenolic contents remain unaltered until five days after anthesis when stigmatic papillae are ruptured and phenolic compounds are liberated in the germination media. While the biological significance of these stigmatic phenols is probably related to defence mechanism in a nechrotic tissue, the fact that phenolic liberation is concomitant with lack of stigma receptivity may indicate a role for phenolic compounds in impairing flower receptivity. | |
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