Physiological studies on cotton. I. The relative importance of different leaves in the fransfer of assimilates

Abstract

The relative importance of stem leaves and sympodia leaves for assimilate transfer was studied using 14C-Leucine. Stem leaves were very effective in feeding the first and second bolls. The first sympodium leaf does not transfer assimilates to the first boll but it does it to bolls further away in the sympodium. However, after ringing the sympodium assimilates cannot come from stem leaf and the first ball is fed by the first leaf. The importance of the stem leaf is also demonstrated by covering it with aluminium foil, with results in an adjustment of sympodium leaves photosynthesis, the activity of their Ru-Bisphosphate carboxilase almost doubling.