The Distribution Pattern of 14Carbon Assimilated by the Third Leaf of Wheat

The third leaf of wheat, variety Jufy I, was allowed to assimilate¹⁴CO₂ for 2 hrs.; after a further hour the distribution patternof the assimilates was determined. Uptake of ¹⁴CO₂ and assimilatesleaving the leaf increased until the leaf was fully expanded,then slowly decreased. High proportions of labelled translocates were recorded in boththe stem and the the root system, that in the roots increasinggreatly as movement of translocates to the leaves decreased.The two fully grown leaves, L₁ and L₂, imported only slightamounts of labelled translocates. Movement of labelled translocateto each of the younger leaves in turn occurred in a strikingpattern, such that import into a given leaf reached a maximumwhich coincided with its maximum rate of growth, subsequentlyfalling rapidly and reaching a very low level by the time theleaf is fully grown. The results are discussed in relation to what is known of thegeneral pattern of growth and translocation in the wheat plant.