Role of free amino acids in fruit bud differentiation in Alphonso mango shoots.
Patil P. B., Rao M. M., Basarkar P. W., Janardhan K. V., Srinivasan C. N., Nalawadi U. G.
Author Affiliation: University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580?005, India.
: 405-411
Abstract : Fruit buds and vegetative 'scar' buds from 'on'-year Alphonso mango trees were sampled at fortnightly intervals between 15 Oct. 1982 (at the pre-fruit bud differentiation (FBD) stage) and 1 Jan. 1983 (post-FBD). On each of the 6 sampling dates, 6 samples were taken at 4-hourly intervals between 04.00 h and midnight. Total free amino acids were determined by the ninhydrin method on each sample, and individual amino acids were determined by 2-dimensional TLC on the samples taken at 08.00 h. Total amino acid concentrations were highest at 08.00 h and 20.00 h, decreased in the period from 15 Oct. to 1 Jan., and were higher in differentiated buds than in scar and undifferentiated buds. Glycine, alanine, serine and threonine levels were higher before FBD, and arginine and phenylalanine levels increased in differentiated buds as they developed.