Effect of Flower Removal on Senescence and Metabolism of Faba Bean(Vicia Faba L.)

In pot experiments at Xichang,China,during 1989～1994,visual senescencesymptoms and associated changes in constituent contents and activities of leaves of fababean(Vicia faba L.)were compared in respones to flower removal.The leaves from upper,middle and lower positions were sampled six times during reproductive developmentphase.At 70 DAP flower removal had caused 37%～189% and 82%～197% increase ofgreen leaf area and green leaf dry weight per plant respectively.Flower removal led to asignificant increase in the chlorophyll,soluble sugar and protein contents and the catalaseactivity.The leaf cell relative electroconductivity of those plants was maintained at a lowerlevel,relative to the control,during the late growing stage.These results certainly impliedthat the leaves of flower removal plants were still fully functional at a very late growingstage,consequently the plants increased many new branches per plant.

Effect of Flower Removal on Senescence and Metabolism of Faba Bean(Vicia Faba L.)