ISHS Acta Horticulturae 415: VIII International Asparagus Symposium
TRANSITION FROM HERMAPHRODITIC TO UNISEXUAL FLOWERS IN MALE AND FEMALE PLANTS OF ASPARAGUS. |
| Authors: | G.P. Marziani Longo, E. Caporali, A. Carboni, A. Spada, A. Falavigna |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.415.22 |
| Abstract:
Male and female flowers of the dioecious plant Asparagus officinalis L. at early stages of development possess both carpels and stamens; sex differentiation occurs at a crucial moment during later development. In this work we try to define this crucial moment. For this purpose we have examined the development of male and female flowers by scanning electron microscope, starting from the appearance of flower primordia until the end of hermaphroditic stage. Morphological observations are integrated by analysis of two-dimensional polypeptides pattern and RNase activity. The results obtained indicate that transition from the hermaphroditic to the unisexual developmental pathway starts at an earlier stage in male flowers than in female flowers. | |
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