C : N ratio increases in the phloem sap during floral transition of the long-day plants Sinapis alba and Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants of Sinapis alba and Arabidopsis thaliana, leaf exudate (phloem sap) was analysed during and after a single long day inducing flowering and in control short days. The amounts of carbohydrates and amino acids were measured to estimate the organic C : N ratio. In both species, the C : N ratio of the phloem sap increased markedly and early during the inductive treatment, suggesting that an inequality in organic C and N supply to the apical meristem may be important at floral transition.