Interactions between Source, Path and Sink in Determining Phloem Translocation Rate

Abstract

Treatments involving mild (5-10 Celsius degrees) temperature changes, spanning a range of mean temperatures, were imposed upon the source, path and sink regions of a translocating plant of Nymphoides geminata whilst the translocation rate was monitored. The temperature dependence (Q*10) of the rate of translocation was evaluated for each of these treatments. A new steady rate was achieved in only 3-5 min following a temperature change and was sustained for 2 h or more. Changes in rate were propagated down the sieve tubes at speeds more than ten times greater than those of sap flow, indicating that translocation involves the flow of a slightly compressible sap. The results suggest that translocation rate is normally under the joint control of source, path and sink regions of the plant. An attempt is made to assess their relative contributions to the overall control and this leads to the conclusion that, in this plant situation, the pathway predominates in controlling rate. It would seem that the individual rates of activity of source, path and sink regions are modulated by changes in the sieve tube sap concentration in their vicinity, these changes corresponding to, and being brought about rapidly by, changes in the hydrostatic pressure of this sap.