Synthesis of Grain Storage Compounds from ¹⁴C Leaf Photosynthates in Maize during Grain Filling Period

Abstract

Whereas elementary processes of carbon photoassimilation, sucrose synthesis, phloem loading and unloading, have been well described, little information is available regarding protein synthesis from photosynthates in leaf and kernel during grain filling. To gain a better understanding of the biochemical basis for partitioning of photosynthetically fixed carbon between leaf and grain a ¹⁴CO₂ labelling study was conducted with field-grown plants 30 days after flowering. Carbon flow was followed by separation and identifixation of ¹⁴C assimilates and ¹⁴C storage molecules within each tissue.