Changes in carbohydrate contents of Zantedeschia leaves under gibberellin-stimulated flowering

The effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃) on the carbohydrate accumulation in relation to vegetative growth of Zantedeschia ‘Black Magic’ plants undergoing transition to flowering was investigated. In response to GA treatment the carbohydrate level increased independently of earlier stimulation of shoot emergence. Under vegetative growth stage the content of reducing sugars of leaf blades was 2.5-fold higher than in control plants, and suggests the stimulation of photosynthetic activity. The changes observed during the flowering, in principle noted in petiole tissues, support the GA-effect on assimilate transport to the sink organs. Moreover, the high level of non-structural carbohydrates in petiole tissues, in particular reducing sugars, can be an effect of photosynthetic activity of these organs and/or essential for osmoregulation and high turgor pressure. The results indicate that apart from the influence on the shoot emergence, the GAs may stimulate the photosynthetic activity from the beginning of shoot growth and are thus responsible for the enhancement of callas flower yield.