ISHS Acta Horticulturae 589: X International Asparagus Symposium
REDUCED LEVEL OF SUGARS ASSOCIATED WITH DESTRUCTION OF CHLOROPLASTS IN SENESCENT CLADOPHYLL CELLS OF ASPARAGUS |
| Authors: | T. Suzuki, W. Yamamoto, M. Akiyama, N. Kasai, K. Oosawa |
| Keywords: | Asparagus officinalis L., fructan, senescence, thylakoid, ultrastructure |
| Abstract:
In order to clarify the mechanism of both autumn senescence in aerial parts and of related translocation of sugars in asparagus plants, seasonal changes in the content of sugars in five regions of 12-year-old asparagus were examined. The ultrastructural changes of cladophyll cells were also examined. The reduced level of sugars was confirmed in all fern samples collected in mid-October, when the green color of cladophyll turned slightly yellow. As to the senescence of cladophyll from mid-September to mid-October, drastic ultrastructural changes in chloroplast occurred in the cells; disappearance of thylakoid membrane and starch granules, and formation, development and release of intraplast lipidbodies. Thus, reduction of photosynthesis in cladophyll cells may occur in early autumn along with chloroplast destruction, followed by increased sugar level in storage roots. | |
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