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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(5)

Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis

Rebecca E. Miller A B C D , Jennifer R. Watling A and Sharon A. Robinson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

B Institute for Conservation Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.

C Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: rebecca.miller@sci.monash.edu.au

Functional Plant Biology 36(5) 471-480 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08326
Submitted: 22 December 2008  Accepted: 10 March 2009   Published: 6 May 2009

Abstract

The receptacle of the sacred lotus is the main source of heat during the thermogenic stage of floral development. Following anthesis, it enlarges, greens and becomes a fully functional photosynthetic organ. We investigated development of photosynthetic traits during this unusual functional transition. There were two distinct phases of pigment accumulation in receptacles. Lutein and photoprotective xanthophyll cycle pigments accumulated first with 64 and 95% of the maximum, respectively, present before anthesis. Lutein epoxide comprised 32% of total carotenoids in yellow receptacles, but declined with development. By contrast, more than 85% of maximum total chlorophyll, β-carotene and Rubisco were produced after anthesis, and were associated with significant increases in maximum electron transport rates (ETR) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). Leaves and mature receptacles had similar Rubisco content and ETRs (>200 μmol m−2 s−1), although total chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents of leaves were significantly higher than those of green receptacles. Receptacle δ13C before anthesis was similar to that of leaves; consistent with leaf photosynthesis being the source of C for these tissues. In contrast, mature receptacles had significantly lower δ13C than leaves, suggesting that 14–24% of C in mature receptacles is the result of refixation of respired CO2.

Additional keywords: antheraxanthin, chlorophyll, development, greening, lutein epoxide, photosynthesis, Rubisco, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, β-carotene.


Acknowledgements

We thank Tiffany Barlow, Nicole Grant and Laura Howie for assistance in the field and with chlorophyll fluorescence analyses, Spencer Whitney (ANU) for generously providing Rubisco primary antibody, Jodie Dunn for assistance with HPLC, Shizue Matsubara for a lutein epoxide standard, and David Hollingworth for the photography and image layout in the supplementary figures.


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