THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLOWER DEVELOPMENT AND ENDOGENOUS GA3 IN POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM 'HICAZNAR')

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) production is rapidly increasing in the southern part of Turkey. Flower induction and differentiation are different from other deciduous plants. Changes of endogenous GA 3 (gibberellic acid) in buds, sepals, petals, stamens, pistils and ovaries of A type (barren) and B type (fruitful) flowers of 'Hicaznar' pomegranate cultivar, selected from Antalya, a province of Turkey, during the first, full and end of flowering periods were determined by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The experiment materials were taken from the West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM). The GA 3 changes in medium and large buds during the first and full flowering periods were not significant, and GA 3 levels were the same in medium and large buds from the first flowering to the end of flowering, whereas important GA 3 variation was observed in small bud samples from first flowering to full flowering period. The highest GA 3 level in 'B' type flower was detected in petal and stamen samples during the full flowering period and in 'A' type flower in ovary during the end of flowering and stamen during the full flowering period. The results indicated that higher levels of GA 3 affect A type flower formation in pomegranates.