CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM DURING DORMANCY AND SPROUTING IN YAM (DIOSCOREA) TUBERS - CHANGES IN CARBOHYDRATE CONSTITUENTS IN YAM (DIOSCOREA) TUBERS DURING DORMANCY AND SPROUTING
Cs. Hariprakash et B. Nambisan, CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM DURING DORMANCY AND SPROUTING IN YAM (DIOSCOREA) TUBERS - CHANGES IN CARBOHYDRATE CONSTITUENTS IN YAM (DIOSCOREA) TUBERS DURING DORMANCY AND SPROUTING, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 44(10), 1996, pp. 3066-3069
Changes in carbohydrate constituents were stuided in tubers of Dioscor
ea rotundata, Dioscorea alata, and Dioscorea esculenta during dormancy
and sprouting for a period of 90 days. Decrease in starch content (35
%) was the most significant change observed in all yam species. This d
ecrease was reflected in proximal, middle, and distal regions of tuber
s. More than 50% of the starch reduction took place during the dormanc
y period. The mobilization of starch to sugars and its utilization was
reflected in fluctuating levels of reducing and nonreducing sugars du
ring presprouting/sprouting periods. Changes were also observed in the
amylose fraction in starch. Chromatographic sugar analysis in tubers
indicated the presence of glucose and sucrose in fresh tubers. Fructos
e and maltose were detected during dormancy/sprouting periods.