1.
14CO
2 was fed to the maximum leaf in gladiolus and all the leaves in oxalis at different growth stages. Percentages total export of
14C 16 hours after feeding were lower at earlier feedings but reached as high as 70% when fed at and after the maximum growth of contractile root(s) in both species. Percentages distribution of
14C to the contractile root(s) were highest when fed at the thickning stage, instead of the maximal growth stage, of the contractile root(s), that is, at 3- to 4.5-leaf stages in gladiolus and at 4- to 5-leaf stages in oxalis. Their values were 12 and 81%, respectively, and corresponded well with high values of RSS (relative strength as a sink) of the contractile root(s) at the respective stages. Distribution of
14C to the daughter corm or bulbs was recognized beginning at 3- to 4-leaf stages and its percentage increased in advance of that based on the dry matter in both species. Moreover, in gladiolus, percentages distribution of
14C to the flower stem increased rapidly at feedings around the maximum growth of contractile roots, but they rapidly declined with flowering. In this case also, the percentages distribution of
14C increased in advance of those of the dry matter. At least in the mother corm of gladiolus, a percentage distribution of about 10% was found at earlier feedings.
2. The retranslocation of
14C from the contractile root(s) to the daughter corm or bulbs was investigated after feeding of
14CO
2 at the growth stages where
14C was known to accumulate most efficiently in the contractile root(s).
In oxalis, at the early stage of contraction of contractile root when the total loss of
14C in the contractile root exceeded much over the respiratory loss, an amount of
14C almost equivalent to the difference between them increased in the daughter bulbs. During the same period, the decrease of
14C in the leaves was so little that the increase of
14C in the daughter bulbs seemed to be due to the retranslocation from the contractile root. It also appeared in gladiolus that a part of
14C-assimilates at 3- to 4.5-leaf stages was retranslocated to the daughter corm via the contractile roots although in less extent than in oxalis, and at the later stages of thickening growth much of
14C moved into the daughter corm from leaves and via flower stem.
3. Among plant parts, it was only the daughter corm or bulbs in which the amount of
14C found at the final harvest exceeded that found 24 hours after feeding. Consequently, the increment of
14C in the daughter corm or bulbs seemed to be due to the retranslocation from some parts other than leaves, and perhaps mainly from the contractile root(s). Then, on the assumption that all the plant parts had the same respiratory rate and so far as the
14C fed just before the maximum growth of contractile root(s) was concerned, about 70% in oxalis and about 14% in gladiolus of the
14C found at the final harvest in the daughter corm or bulbs were estimated to be retranslocated from the contractile root(s), while 23% and 65% were from the leaves, respectively. Moreover, the above-mentioned contribution rates based on
14C corresponded well with those based on the dry matter reported previously.
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