Degradation Metabolism of Storage Reserves During Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifeva)
莲种子萌发和幼苗生长时期营养物质的代谢变化

The cotyledons of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifeva) accumulate abundant storage reserves, including storage proteins in protein bodies, starch and DNA in amyloplasts, during seed development. Hydrolysis of these reserves provides sources for seed germination and seedling growth. Histochemical analysis revealed the entire process of reserve degradation in Sacred Lotus cotyledons, which occurs from seed germination to the stage of 4-noded vegetal body over about 45 days. Throughout this period, storage reserves are continuously involved in dynamic hydrolysis and transport activities. Protein bodies degrade before starch and aDNA hydrolysis, which mainly occurs at the trefoil stage. Amyloplasts may fuse into a large starch mass and hydrolyze gradually. In comparison with the trefoil stage, amyloplasts contain few DNA after 65 days of germination. In addition, diverse structural changes, related to transporta-tion of substances among cotyledon cells, occur in cell walls. Quantities of polysaccharide vesicles are transported in bulk through vascular bundles.