Phloem Translocation and Assimilate Partitioning HORT 301 – Plant Physiology November 2, 2009 Taiz and Zeiger, Chapter 10 paul.m.hasegawa.1@purdue.edu Assimilate translocation in the phloem from source-to-sink is bidirectional
Phloem sap composition
Phloem tissue is adjacent to the xylem Stem (perennial) Leaf
Sieve elements and companion cell
Companion cell types Ordinary companion cell Transfer cell Intermediary cell
Source to sink translocation Proximity Vascular interconnection Sink strength
Pressure flow model for phloem translocation from source to sink Source – phloem loading increases ψp Sink – phloem unloading decreases ψp Ψp gradient between source and sink drives solution movement
Phloem loading from source cells and unloading into sink cells Photo-assimilate movement Symplast (active) and apoplastic (active) phloem loading
Apoplastic (active) phloem loading Summary of apoplastic and symplastic phloem loading
Phloem unloading and storage in sinks
Photosynthetic product allocation and partitioning Allocation – regulation of carbon assimilate distribution into various metabolic pathways or sink cells Partitioning – distribution of carbon assimilates within plants
Translocation from source to sink