Respiration of the Spadix From the Aroid Zantedeschia Aethiopica Spreng.

Spadix tissue of a number of aroid species has been shown to be an outstanding exception to the general pattern of plant respiration. In the work reported here the respiration of whole tissue and mitochondria from the spadix of another aroid species Zantedeschia aethiopica Spreng. was studied. The respiration of both whole tissue and mitochondria was found to be strongly inhibited by the metal-complexing agents cyanide and azide. Cytochrome oxidase and cytochromes band c were spectroscopically indentified in mitochondrial suspensions and cytochrome oxidase activity was demonstrated in extracts. The results indicate that the respiratory characteristics of the Zantedeschia spadix tissue are similar to those of most other plant tissues. Such characteristics are, however, in marked contrast to the respiratory pattern reported for other aroid spadices.