PJB-2019-487
Variation of Endogenous Phytohormone in Functional Male and Bisexual Flowers of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) during Development
Yujie Zhao
Abstract
Pomegranate has two type flowers on the same tree: bisexual flowers and functional male flowers. Flower development is an intricate process regulated via a complex transcriptional regulatory network. To understand the molecular mechanisms of governing flower development and female sterility in pomegranate, we performed a comprehensive analysis of endogenous phytohormone changes during flower development. Plant hormones (Gibberellin (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA)) contents in the pomegranate flowers were measured to elucidate the relationship between endogenous hormones and floral differentiation by ELISA. The results showed that high accumulations of ABA, GA, and the high ratio of ABA/ZR in bisexual flower primordium might stimulate the sterility of ovary and promote the development of stamen organ, which led to functional male flower. Moreover, low levels of IAA in functional male flower from S6 to S8 might accelerate the abortion of pistil and the development of stamen, and low levels of the ratio of ABA/GA at S3 and S6 might also promote the development of the male organ. Also, ZR and JA have a similar accumulation tendency, low levels of ZR and JA might contribute to the development of the male organ in the late period of bud development. ZR had significant positive correlation with JA (p < 0.05) in both bisexual and functional male flowers. With the above conclusions, ABA, GA and the ABA/ZR ratio play determinant roles in the abortion of pistils of pomegranate. Bisexual stages are identical in functional male flower and bisexual flower, potentially providing a platform for sex conversion under specific hormones conditions.
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