Abstract

The main metabolic substances changes during the development process of anther-derived embryos in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. cv. ‘Dawuxing’) were studied. These include water contents, dry mass contents, carbohydrates, soluble proteins and nucleic acids. In the developmental stages of anther-derived embryos, the fresh weight and the dry mass contents increased gradually with the anther-derived embryos development as a whole. Soluble sugars, soluble protein and nucleic acid were closely related to the development and maturation of embryos, changing significantly in metabolism at the important development turning points. Soluble sugar, fructose and starch contents had the same change trend. The two accumulation peaks appeared at globular and cotyledon stages. During the development of loquat anther embryos, the dynamics of protein synthesis were roughly in "S" shape. The two accumulation peaks appeared at globular and cotyledon stage, respectively, in accordance with the change of sugar and starch. Alkaline protein contents were higher than acidic protein contents. Alkaline protein contents and total soluble protein contents had the same change trend during the development process. DNA contents and total nucleic acid contents had the same change trend during the development of anther-derived embryos. The DNA synthesis peaks appeared at the embryogenic callus stage. RNA contents were very low at embryogenic callus stage and cotyledon stage, while DNA was actively synthesized at the two stages.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica, anther culture, embryos, metabolic substances.