Sink to Source Translocation in Soybean

The possibility that phloem loading may occur in the reproductive sink tissues of soybeans (Glycine max Merr. cv Chippewa 64) was examined. When [(14)C]sucrose was applied to seed coat tissues from which the developing embryo had been surgically removed, 0.1% to 0.5% of the radioactivity was translocated to the vegetative plant parts. This sink to source translocation was largely unaffected by destroying a band of phloem with steam treatment on the stem above and below the labeled pod. The same steam treatment, however, completely abolished translocation of [(14)C]sucrose between mature leaves and developing fruits. These results indicate that the movement of nutrients from developing seed coats to the vegetative plant parts occur in the xylem and that phloem loading does not occur in this sink tissue.