BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF LYCORIS SPRENGERI BULBLETS (AMARYLLIDACEAE) TO EXOGENOUSLY APPLIED N-(2-CHLORO-4-PYRIDYL)-N1-PHENYLUREA (CPPU)

Bulblets of Lycoris sprengeri (Amaryllidaceae) were obtained by cutting. Sixconcentrations of N-(2-chloro-4-pyridy1)-N1-phenylurea (CPPU) solutions were sprayed on leaves from one-year-old bulblets during their green period. Fresh weight, diameter,carbohydrate content, activity of starch metabolism-related enzymes and levels of endogenous hormones of bulblets were determined. The effects of CPPU treatment on bulblet development and biochemical and physiological indices of L. sprengeri were analyzed using the determined values. The results showed that CPPU treatment at an appropriate concentration promoted the enlargement of L. sprengeri bulblets; the optimal concentration was 7.5 mg L-1. Bulblet growth showed a significant positive correlation with starch content and the activities of soluble starch synthase (SSS) and starch bound starch synthase (GBSS). Bulblet growth showed anextremely significant positive correlation with the ratio of endogenous gibberellic acid/abscisic acid (GA/ABA). The GA/ABA ratio showed a significant positive correlation with the activities of (alpha+beta)-amylase and GBSS. The exogenous application of CPPU promoted the synthesis and accumulation of starch in the bulblets of L. sprengeri and the activities of starch metabolism-related enzymes; an increase in the endogenous GA/ABA ratio had a synergistic effect.