Source-Sink Relationship: Control of Photosynthesis in the Flag Leaf by the Panicle in Wheat

If the sink organs regulate the metabolic activity of the sourceorgans through the transmission of a signal and that signalis chemical in nature, then it should be present among the substancescoming out of the panicle. When flag leaf respiration and photosynthesisof wheat (Tritcum aestivum L.) cv. HP 1459 were measured withan infrared gas analyser after feeding the flag leaves withthe diffusate coming out of the panicle, it was observed thatwhile respiration was unaffected, photosynthesis was sharplyinhibited; the inhibition decreased with increasing age of thepanicle. Among the known plant growth regulators none couldsatisfy the requirements of this role with the exception ofabscisic acid which was found to inhibit photosynthesis by morethan 50% even at 10^–7 M, when respiration was affectedby only 8%. Apparently, abscisic acid inhibited photosynthesisthrough its effects on stomatal movement. (Received September 2, 1986; Accepted May 1, 1987)