Effect of Weak Light on the Photoassimilates Distribution and Transformation of Young Grape Plants

The effect of weak light on the photoassimilates distribution and transformation of young Jingyu grape plants ( Vitis vinefera L. cv. Jingyu) were studied by shading. Compared to the grape grown under natural light intensity environment, the net photosynthetic rate diurnal variation curve of experimental plants grown in weak light intensity environment was remarkably lower. Its leaf and stem biomass ratio increased when light intensity decreased, the root and new shoot biomass ratio showed an opposite trend. The 14 C-photoassimilates was mostly distributed to young leaves and stem, a little was distributed to root. The metabolism of 14C-photoassimilates distributed to the entire grape body were also changed under weak light intensity environment.

Intercellular Symplastic Connection and Isolation of the Unloading Zone in Flesh of the Developing Grape Berry

The ultrastructure and intercellular connection of the sugar unloading zone (i.e. the phloem in the dorsal vascular bundle and the phloem_surrounding the assimilate sink_cells) of grape ( Vitis vinifera× V. labrusca cv. Jingchao) berry was observed via transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that during the early developmental stages of grape berry, numerous plasmodesmata were found in the phloem between sieve element (SE) and companion cell (CC), between SE/CC complexes, between SE/CC complex and phloem parenchyma cell and in between phloem parenchyma cells, which made the phloem a symplastic integration, facilitating sugar unloading from sieve elements into both companion cells and phloem parenchyma cells via a symplastic pathway. On the contrary, there was almost no plasmodesma between phloem and its surrounding flesh photoassimilate sink_cells, neither in between the flesh photoassimilate sink_cells giving rise to a symplastic isolation both between phloem and its surrounding flesh photoassimilate sink_cells, as well as among the flesh photoassimilate sink_cells. This indicated that both the sugar unloading from phloem and postphloem transport of sugars should be mainly via an apoplastic pathway. During the ripening stage, most of the plasmodesmata between SE/CC complex and the surrounding phloem parenchyma cells were shown to be blocked by the electron_opaque globules, and a phenomenon of plasmolysis was found in a number of companion cells, indicating a symplastic isolation between SE/CC complex and its surrounding parenchyma cells during this phase. The symplastic isolation between the whole phloem and its surrounding photoassimilate sink_cells during the early developmental stages shifted to a symplastic isolation within the phloem during the ripening phase, and thus the symplastic pathway of sugar unloading from SE/CC complex during the early development stages should be replaced by a dominant apoplastic unloading pathway from SE/CC complex in concordance.

Regulation of Photoassimilate Distribution between Source and Sink Organs of Crops through Light Environment Control in Greenhouses

Photosynthesis, the most important physiological process in plants, can produce not only ATP and NADPH used in other processes but also carbohydrate, the key factor for crop yield. Production of photoassimilates is often influenced by various environmental factors such as light, temperature, CO2, water, mineral elements and leaf stage and position. Here we focused on the light-mediated regulation of photoassimilate translocation in plants and the application of light environment control in greenhouse production. We also reviewed the effects of other factors including leaf age and position, air temperature, CO2 concentration and water and mineral element supply on photoassimilate translocation in plants. Finally some perspectives have been proposed.

Regulation of Leaf Senescence and Crop Genetic Improvement

Leaf senescence can impact crop production by either changing photosynthesis duration, or by modifying the nutrient remobiliza- tion efficiency and harvest index. The doubling of the grain yield in major cereals in the last 50 years was primarily achieved through the extension of photosynthesis duration and the increase in crop biomass partitioning, two things that are intrinsically coupled with leaf senescence. In this review, we consider the functionality of a leaf as a function of leaf age, and divide a leaf＇s life into three phases： the functionality increasing phase at the early growth stage, the full functionality phase, and the senescence and functionality decreasing phase. A genetic framework is proposed to describe gene actions at various checkpoints to regulate leaf development and senescence. Four categories of genes contribute to crop production： those which regulate （Ⅰ） the speed and transition of early leaf growth, （Ⅱ） photosynthesis rate, （Ⅲ） the onset and （Ⅳ） the progression of leaf senescence. Current advances in isolating and characterizing senescence regulatory genes are discussed in the leaf aging and crop production context. We argue that the breeding of crops with leaf senescence ideotypes should be an essential part of further crop genetic improvement.