Influence of Mechanical Leaf Injury on CO₂ Assimilation and Carbon Translocation in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Authors

Joe Harry Hultquist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

1-1969

Citation

Thesis (M.S.)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1969. Department of Agronomy.

Comments

Copyright 1969, the author. Used by permission.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine some of the possible translocation pathway characteristics of sorghum leaves and sheaths subjected to midrib and laminar injury and to evaluate the effect of laminar injury on the distribution of carbon uptake over the entire leaf. For these purposes, ¹⁴CO₂ was administered to photosynthizing leaves and the location of assimilation products traced through autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting. The flag leaf was selected for studying the effects of injury on carbon uptake because of the ease of obtaining uniform exposure to sunlight. Both the third leaf and the flag leaf were used for the study involving the effect of injury on translocation for the following reasons:

1. The flag leaf predominance in supply and probable high translocation velocity.

2. The third leaf because of its lesser role but favorable availability of sunlight for treatment exposure.

Advisor: J. D. Eastin