Relationships between Growth in Volume and Respiration of Cucumber Fruit after Heat-girdling the Peduncle.

Tazuke Akio

doi:10.2503/jjshs.62.135

The energy requirement was estimated for the growth of a cucumber (Cucumis stativus L.) 'Tokiwa Hikari 3 Go A Gata' fruit by measuring its volume and respiration rate after the peduncle was heat-girdled. The fruit increased up to 30% in volume after the girdling treatment. The amount of growth in volume of a fruit during the first day after girdling showed temperature-dependence with Q₁₀ of about 2. Time course of respiration rate of fruit after girdling was similar to that after cutting of the peduncle. Respiration rate (R) of fruit t hours after girdling fitted well to the equation R =a • e^{-b • t}+ c. Con- stant c in this equation corresponds to the maintenance respiration estimated by 'starvation method'. Q₁₀s of constants b and c were about 2. At 30°C, the amount of CO₂ respired could be divided into growth and maintenance components both on the basis of fruit volume by a linear regression (r = 0.99^{* *}). Maintenance respiration rate of fruit estimated from this regression was close to constant c.<BR>Dry weight, ethanol-soluble solids and ethanol-insoluble solids contents of fruit did not change significantly after heat-girdling. Change in osmotic potential of fruit after girdling could be explained by dilution on account of the influx of water. Hexose content of fruit decreased by 15% at 30°C.<BR>The data suggest that the energy cost for cell expansion in fruit with a girdled peduncle is similar to that of a normally growing fruit. Energy metabolism of cucumber fruit seems to be closely related to cell expansion that accompanies water import.

Relationships between Growth in Volume and Respiration of Cucumber Fruit after Heat-girdling the Peduncle.

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