Erez, A., Institute of Horticulture, Volcani Center, A.R.O., Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Wang, S.Y., Fruit Laboratory, Beltsville Agric. Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
Faust, M., Fruit Laboratory, Beltsville Agric. Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States

Phospholipid content in both dormant vegetative and floral peach buds increased markedly with exposure to chilling sufficient to break dormancy, whereas intermittent chilling that did not satisfy the chilling requirement caused a loss of phospholipids on both a fresh and dry weight basis. The relative level of linoleate in phospholipids of peach vegetative and floral buds increased with continuous but not with intermittent chilling. Forty-eight hours after transfer of shoots from cold to warm conditions, after the chilling requirement was satisfied, a decrease in linoleate and a rise in linolenate were noted in phospholipids. In the glycolipid fraction, the level of linolenate was higher in chilled compared with intermittently chilled vegetative buds throughout the dormant period. A minor rise in linoleate was also noted in chilled vegetative buds. An inconsistent pattern was found in floral buds. On the basis of these results and previously published findings, a hypothesis is proposed on the involvement of restructuring of membrane lipids in dormancy development and release.