We studied how the endogenous and exogenous cytokinin and gibberellin functions in floral initiation and development in tuberose. In the aspect of cytokinins. The contents of endogenous cytokinin in tuberose corms (Polianthes tuberosa L. cv. Double) at vegetative, early floral initiation, and flower development stages were investigated. We also determined the influence of exogenous cytokinin treatment on the corm apex at three different growth stages in relation to floral initiation and development in tuberose. The exogenous cytokinin effectively induced floral initiation and development, especially at the early floral initiation and flower development stages. Endogenous cytokinins were higher in early floral initiation and development stages in comparison to the vegetative stage. During floral initiation stage, the zeatin and dihydrozeatin increased significantly, while the cytokinins, zeatin riboside, dihydrozeatin riboside, 6N-(£_2-isopentenyl) adenine, and 6N-(£_2-isope -ntenyl) adenine riboside at consistently low levels. The increase of cytokinin levels in tuberose corms during floral induction suggests a role for cytokinins in tuberose apex evocation. Moreover, these results indicate that cytokinins seem to promote the development of flower buds rather than inducing flowering in tuberose. Endogenous gibberellins (GAs) in tuberose corms were isolated using high performance liquid chromatography, bioassay and identified by combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrumetry. Gibber -ellins A19, A20 and A53 were quantified at the vegetative, early floral initiation and flower differentiation stages. The identification of these 13-hydroxylated GAs indicates the presence of the early-13-hydroxy -lation in tuberose corms. An increase in GA20 and decrease in GA19 coincided with the transition from the vegetative phase to the stages of early floral initiation and flower differentiation. GA53 maintained at constant levels at three different growth stages. When GA3, GA4, GA20 and GA32 were applied to corms at vegetative stage (plants about 5 cm in height ), floral initiation was induced and/or promoted by several, most notably by GA3, GA20 and GA32. It is suggest that hydroxylated C-19 GAs play an important role in flower induction in tuberose.

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) provides desert plants with distinct advantages over the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in harsh climates where water is scarce. CAM is, however more metabolically costly than C3 or C4 photosynthesis, and some plants, such as Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, facultatively utilize CAM when water is abundant, and water conservation unnecessary. In such situations, these plants behave akin to a C3 plant when photosynthesizing. CAM is divided into four phases, with each phase displaying unique metabolic processes. Certain changes, including changes in the timing of CO2 fixation, stable carbon isotope ratios, and tissue malic acid content accumulation patterns can indicate that a plant has shifted from CAM to C3 photosynthesis. Such shifts have been observed to be regulated primarily by water availability and ontogenic development. While facultative CAM is well documented in species like Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, and it has not been studied extensively in Agave with the exception of Agave deserti, and Agave angustifolia. A better understanding of this phenomenon would apply to the agricultural growth of this genus. This study aimed to trigger C3 to CAM shifts in Agave sensu lato species, in order to expand upon the findings of previous studies, and better understand the prevalence of facultative CAM expression in the genus. Gas exchange and stable carbon isotope measurements were taken from 2-month-old, 10-month-old, and mature agaves grown in controlled ocnditions. Tissue acid content measurements were taken from mature plants. Despite the Agave sensu lato species in this study being subjected to moisture applications ranging from dry to saturated, we were unable to observe any distinct shifts from CAM to C3 photosynthesis in any of the species tested for both seedlings and mature plants. Diel net CO2 fixation rates also increased with age, and water applications for seedlings, and decreased with heavy irrigation in mature plants. Stable carbon isotope ratios revealed that some carbon in the plant tissues was fixed by rubisco, and that some species (Polianthes tuberosa, Prochnyanthes mexicana) had carbon isotope ratios of a C3 plant, but these ratios did not change with different irrigation treatments. Malic acid accumulation remained typical of CAM plants for the species tested as well, with one exception in Polianthes tuberosa. As such, we conclude that the Agave sensu stricto species tested in this study are obligate CAM plants, and that they perform poorly mature individuals are over-watered. Additionally, the Agave sensu lato species P. mexicana, and P. tuberosa appear to be C3 plants given the results of this study.