Characteristics of phloem translocation of photoassimilates and herbicides

광합성산물과 제초제의 체관이행 기작

The generally accepted idea for carbohydrate translocation in plants is an osmotic pressure flow hypothesis. According to the hypothesis, a high concentration of carbohydrate in the phloem of carbohydrate synthesis regions (source) causes a water influx into the phloem. The generated osmotic potential in the phloem is responsible for long distance carbohydrate transport through the positive hydrostatic pressure. In regions of carbohydrate utilization and storage (sink), translocated carbohydrates are continuously metabolized and compartmentalized, generating a concentration gradient between source and sinks. In this system, carbohydrates load into the phloem (phloem loading) and unload out of the phloem (phloem unloading). Phloem-mobile herbicides that are applied to plants are also translocated from the source to sinks. However, some experimental results reveal that the patterns of phloem translocation between carbohydrates and herbicides are different. The differences are due, in part, to the physico-chemical properties of herbicides and to the absence/presence of specific carrier(s) in the phloem.