Effects of jasmonic acid (JA) and HCN on apple embryo germination, on fructose-2, 6-bisphosphate content (F-2, 6-P2) as well as on the activities of pyruvate kinase (PK), PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) and ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase (ATP-PFK) were studied in cultured, dormant apple embryos in darkness. JA and HCN stimulated embryo germination. Additive effect of JA with HCN on embryo germination was also observed. JA and HCN increased the F-2, 6 content as well as the activities of PPi-PFK and PK, whereas the activity of ATP-PFK was inhibited both by JA and HCN. Additive interaction between JA and HCN on PK and PPi-ATP activities and non-additive interaction on the activity of ATP-PFK suggests that HCN acts independently of JA in the regulatory complex controlling embryonic dormancy in apple.
Apple embryo, germination, HCN, jasmonic acid, sugar catabolism
