Abstract

Flower-inducing substance(s) (assayed with Lemna paucicostata 151) was produced by incubation of the centrifuged pellet of the homogenate of L. paucicostata 441 (P441) with the commercial enzyme preparations, catalase, cellulase, invertase, lipase, pectinase, peroxidase and proteinase K. These enzyme preparations were effective even after autoclaving.

The flower-inducing activity of the centrifuged supernatant was also enhanced by incubation with the cellulase preparation, but that of the heat-treated supernatant or pellet was not. Oxygen deprivation (incubation in nitrogen gas) or presence of ascorbate during the incubation markedly lowered the generation of the flower-inducing activity. These results suggest that the flower-in-inducing substance(s) is produced by an oxidative reaction from some heat-stable component in the commercial enzyme preparations by the action of some heat-unstable factor (enzyme?) in the plant.

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