Enzyme activity and electrophoretic pattern of isoenzymes of peroxidase, esterase and alkaline and acid phosphatase in relation to flowering in Amaranthus viridis L. - A Quantitative SD plant

Abstract

Amaranthus viridis is a quantitative SD plant in which inflorescence primordia are initiated under both 24- and 8-h photoperiods after 12 and 10 days, when 8 and 7 leaves are differentiated, respectively. Photoperiod plays a non-determinate role, whereas the maturity of plants linked with the attainment of minimum leaf number is significant and of primary importance in floral induction. This is further confirmed by the more or less identical nature of changes in the total enzyme activity and isoenzyme patterns of peroxidase, esterase and alkaline and acid phosphatase under the two photoperiods. These changes occur once the minimum vegetative growth has been achieved prior to the reproductive transformation, irrespective of the photoperiod, pointing to the activation of a general common pathway of events leading to floral induction.