Abstract:

The characteristics of flowering (type I), nonflowering(type II) and flowering reversion (type III) bamboo(Phyllostachys heteroclada), involving chlorophyll, soluble sugar, starch, protein content and key enzymes activity were studied. The results showed that chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content of type I and type III were obviously unstable, comparing with type II. The change tendency of above mentioned indexes seemed almost opposite between type I and type III. Soluble sugar and total sugar contents, and activity of sucrase of type I increased, and the endingvalues and average values were more than those of the other two types. On the other hand, type I had fewer soluble protein content, less activity of GS, and more great soluble sugar/soluble protein than other two types, while the total sugar/total protein ratio was similar among the three. In general, the carbon metabolism increased and nitrogen metabolism decreased apparently at flowering stage of P. heteroclada, which suggested that the change of carbon and nitrogen metabolism could be a signal of the bamboo transition from growth to development. 

Key words: Phyllostachys heteroclada, flowering, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, activity of enzyme