Biologia plantarum 46:509-516, 2003 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000041054.71761.0b

Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Developmental Cycle of Colchicum autumnale L.

L. Franková1, H. Komjáthyová2, K. Bóka3, O. Gašparíková1, M. Pšenák2
1 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
3 Department of Plant Anatomy, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmany Péter setány 1/C, Budapest, Hungary

This study was conducted to examine the individual developmental stages of Colchicum autumnale. We identified the sclerenchymatic tissue in the middle part of the protuberance. This tissue supports the function of protuberance as a kind of hollow diverticulum. On the boundary of the new corm and the shoot a meristematic layer was recognized. We assume that this abscission zone-like structure can initiate dying back of the above-ground part regularly at the end of annual life-cycle. The major part of starch is reutilized in the mother corm during the autumnal stage, supporting sprouting which takes place in the soil. Decline of starch content is paralleled by increasing of total amylolytic activity. From amylolytic enzymes α-amylase, β-amylase and α-glucosidase have been identified. The presence of pullulanase and starch phosphorylase was not observed. From free sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose were identified in corms. The level of sucrose increased significantly during winter season.

Keywords: α-amylase; β-amylase; free sugars; geophyte; α-glucosidase; protuberance; starch; total amylolytic activity
Subjects: α-amylase, β-amylase; autumn crocus, amylolytic activity; Colchicum autumnale; α-glucosidase; growth analysis, plant development, biomass enhancement; protuberance; pullulanase; saccharide content, developmental cycle; starch, developmental cycle

Published: December 1, 2003Show citation

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Franková, L., Komjáthyová, H., Bóka, K., Gašparíková, O., & Pšenák, M. (2003). Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Developmental Cycle of Colchicum autumnale L. Biologia plantarum, 46(4), 509-516. doi: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000041054.71761.0b.
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