Abstract
Photosynthate translocation from leaves to fruits is an important
determinant of crop yield and quality. In protected cultivation,
environmental control based on photosynthate translocation is indicative
for realising high-yield and high-quality production. However, there are
few studies on the environmental response of photosynthate
translocation. In this study, we focused on light intensity as a key
environmental factor to steer translocation. We fed
11CO2 to a leaf of strawberry plant
(Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) and analysed real-time
dynamics in 11C-labeled photosynthate translocation
from a 11CO2-fed leaf to individual
fruits on an inflorescence of intact plants by using positron emission
tomography (PET) under different light intensities (50, 100, 200 and 400
μmol m-2 s-1). A poor relationship
was obtained between 11C-photosynthate translocation
and light intensity according to the results that
11C-photosynthate translocation rates into the fruits
was highest under the light intensity of 100 μmol m-2
s-1 followed by those of 200, 400 and 50 μmol
m-2 s-1. On the other hand, there
was a strong negative correlation between transpiration rate of the
11C-fed leaf and 11C-photosynthate
translocation rate. These novel findings indicate that transpiration,
which controls the leaf moisture status, is one of the main drivers for
photosynthate translocation towards fruits.