Metabolic changes in cherry flower buds associated with breaking of dormancy in early and late blooming cultivars

Changes of metabolic activities during dormancy and breaking of dormancy in the cherry flower buds of early blooming (EB) cultivar (Prunus avium L. cv. Coeur de Pigeon) and late blooming (LB) cultivar (Prunus serrulata Lindl. cv. Kwanzan) were determined. The LB buds had higher polyamines, protein and 1‐(malonylamino) cyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (MACC) content than the EB buds. During the dormant state, the DNA, RNA, protein and polyamines in the EB buds were low but increased slowly and steadily, whereas those in the LB buds remained at a consistently higher level. The transition from dormancy to the active state in both cultivars was characterized by a sharp increase in DNA, RNA, protein, polyamines, S‐adenosyl‐methionine (SAM), 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) and MACC. After initial swelling and development of flowers, the levels of all these components decreased. Polyamine and ethylene biosyntheses did not seem to be competing for their common substrate, SAM, during flower bud development.