Primary metabolism in flowers sustains a plenitude (丰富) of physiological and ecological functions related to floral development and plant reproduction (植物繁殖). Carbohydrates (碳水化合物) and amino acids provide energy and precursors for the reactions of floral secondary metabolism, such as the molecules for color and scent (气味), and constitute an important resource of food for the pollinators (传粉者). Recent discoveries have advanced our understanding of the cycles of carbohydrate hydrolysis (水解) and re-synthesis that regulate pollen development, pollen tube growth, and pollination (授粉), as well as the composition of nectar (花蜜). Pathways of de novo amino acid biosynthesis have been described in flowers, and the proteins that regulate pollen tube guidance (指引) and ultimately control fertilization (受精) are being progressively (逐步) characterized. Finally, a novel field of research is emerging that investigates the chemical modification (化学修饰) of sugars and amino acids by colonizing (殖民) microorganisms (微生物) and how these affect the pollinators' preferences for the flowers. In this Update article, we provide an overview of the new discoveries and future directions concerning the study of the primary metabolism of flowers.

First Published data: October 6, 2017.