Anatomy and changes in endogenous hormones during flower bud differentiation in Nelumbo nucifera.

In order to assess the mechanism for flower bud differentiation in Nelumbo nucifera,the anatomy and changes in ABA,IAA,ZR and GA content during the flower bud differentiation process in N.nucifera 'Jin qi' were studied using the paraffin section method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results indicated that the flower bud differentiation process included five phases:flower bud differentiation initiation phase,sepal differentiation phase,petal differentiation phase,stamen differentiation phase and gynoecia differentiation phase.During the entire process,the four types of hormones displayed marketed changes.High GA concentration favored the initiation of flower bud differentiation mechanism,while the low GA concentration favored the differentiation of flower bud segments.The ABA,IAA and ZR reached the maximal concentartions in the petal differentiation phase.