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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 37(11)

Distribution of thermogenic activity in floral tissues of Nelumbo nucifera

Nicole M. Grant A B , Rebecca A. Miller A B C , Jennifer R. Watling B and Sharon A. Robinson A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute for Conservation Biology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.

B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: sharonr@uow.edu.au

Functional Plant Biology 37(11) 1085-1095 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP10024
Submitted: 5 February 2010  Accepted: 9 August 2010   Published: 22 October 2010

Abstract

Thermogenesis in Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) has been known to scientists for many years; however, the extent of heating by different floral parts remains unclear. We present evidence that the receptacle, stamens and petals produce heat independently, and that the source of heating in these tissues is most likely the alternative oxidase (AOX). The temperatures of the receptacle, petals and stamens were significantly higher than non-thermogenic leaf tissue. After removal from the pedicel, the receptacle retained the most heat (8.1 ± 1.9°C above non-thermogenic tissue temperature) and the petals the least (2.8 ± 4.2°C), with the stamens intermediate. High AOX protein levels and flux through the AOX pathway (in all tissues) during the thermogenic period are consistent with AOX being the mechanism used for thermogenesis. Lipids and carbohydrates were investigated as possible substrates for thermogenesis. There was little change in total lipids during floral development; however, soluble carbohydrate levels decreased by 70% with the onset of thermogenesis. These sugars may fuel thermogenesis in the stamens. The localisation of AOX protein in the various floral parts and the evolutionary significance of its heating role are discussed.

Additional keywords: alternative oxidase, alternative pathway respiration, lipid, plant thermogenesis, sacred lotus, starch.


Acknowledgements

We thank the Adelaide Botanical Gardens for the use of their lotus pond. We also thank Professor Kikukatsu Ito and Dr Yoshi Onda for advice and useful suggestions, David Bruce for technical advice, and Andrew Netherwood and David Hollingworth for photography and image production assistance. Antibodies were kindly donated by Professor James Whelan (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia), Professor Murray Badger (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia) and Professor Kikukatsu Ito (Iwate University, Morioka, Japan). This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (grant no. DP0451617) and NMG received an APA studentship. The thermal imaging camera was purchased using funding from the University of Wollongong Research Infrastructure Block Grant. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments.


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