A distribution of ¹⁴ C-assimilate in tomato : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Horticultural Science with Honours in the University of Canterbury [Lincoln College]

Abstract

As far back as the fifteenth century, the Italian plant physiologist Malpighi deduced with remarkable insight, that food from leaves ( photosynthate ) was somehow distributed throughout the plant to be stored or used for growth.

Until the mid-1930's , patterns of photosynthate distribution in higher plants were based on growth analyses or the use of dyes as tracers. However, over the past thirty years or so, studies on photosynthate translocation and distribution have received considerable stimulus from the development of relatively cheap radio-tracers , especially the long-lived ¹⁴ C radioisotope

The aim of the experimental work described in this dissertation was to trace the distribution of photosynthate in young tomato plants with ¹⁴ C.