Phloem Physiology: Regulation of Sugar Transport and Allocation

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Phloem Physiology: Regulation of Sugar Transport and Allocation: Studies will focus on elucidating the manner in which the connection between the leaf source and phloem is regulated to control photosynthesized carbohydrate allocation between storage in chloroplast and vacuolar pools and translocation into the phloem. The mechanisms will be investigated using patch clamp electrode techniques on isolated protoplasts and vacuoles. A special technique devised by Dr. Lucas that uses fluorescent probes incorporated into lipsomesliposomes will be applied to study whether transport is symplastic via plasmodesmata or apoplastic. The growth and productivity of plants depends on the movement of carbohydrate photosynthesized in the leaf from the leaf via the phloem to the stem, root, flower or seed where it will be used or stored. Knowledge of how phloem is loaded and unloaded, how these processes are regulated, and the nature of the signal from sink to source is basic to the planned scientific development of more efficient plants.