Effects of sucrose on photosynthesis and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity of in vitro cultured strawberry plantlets

Photosynthesis and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity were investigated in 5, 10 and 28 day-old micropropagated strawberry plantlets (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv Kent) rooted in vitro with different levels of sucrose (0, 1, 3 and 5%) on cellulose plugs (Sorbarods). The photosynthetic capability was influenced by the level of sucrose in the culture medium with the largest rates of photosynthesis corresponding to the cultures with 0 and 1% sucrose. The apparent quantum yield and the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence were also reduced in plantlets cultured with 3 or 5% sucrose as compared to those with 0 or 1%. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity was largest 5 and 10 days after the onset of culture and decreased in the absence of sucrose in the culture medium. At 28 days after the onset of culture, the activity of this carboxylating enzyme was lower than at the beginning of culture and independent of the concentration of sucrose in the culture medium. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase appears to be an important carboxylating enzyme in micropropagated plantlets.