Carbohydrate Changes of Easter Lilies during Growth in Normal and Reduced Irradiance Environments

Abstract

Changes in carbohydrate types and quantities in the bulbs, stems, leaves, and buds of Easter lilies ( Lilium longiflorum Thunb. ‘Nellie White’) forced under ambient or reduced irradiance conditions were investigated. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that sucrose is the dominant soluble carbohydrate in bulb tissues, with glucose, fructose, and mannose present at significantly lower concentrations. During growth of the flowering shoot, mother bulb reserves are preferentially used regardless of greenhouse irradiance. Beginning 40 days after planting, there was a steady decrease in mother bulb starch concentration until anthesis, 70 days later. Increased bulb sucrose, glucose, mannose, and fructose concentrations were correlated with the induction of starch breakdown and carbohydrate export. Under natural greenhouse irradiance conditions, daughter bulb carbohydrate reserves were not used, as starch and soluble carbohydrate concentrations remained constant. Irradiance reductions of 50% to 85% significantly reduced total carbohydrate concentration in leaves and floral buds and induced export from the daughter bulb, as evidenced by elevated levels of daughter bulb soluble carbohydrates and reductions in starch concentration. Dark-grown plants exhibited similar daughter bulb carbohydrate metabolism patterns as plants grown in full sun: starch was not hydrolyzed and soluble carbohydrates did not increase in concentration. Collectively, these results suggest 1) bulb export metabolism is characterized by elevated soluble carbohydrate concentrations, 2) there is a minimum irradiance requirement for carbohydrate export processes from the daughter bulb, and 3) reductions in greenhouse irradiance result in reduced carbohydrate levels in Easter lily leaves and flower buds.