THE METABOLISM OF FRUCTANS DURING SEED DEVELOPMENT AND GERMINATION INONION (ALLIUM-CEPA L)

Fructan metabolism was studied during maturation and germination in on ion seeds. Fructans formed a significant transient store of carbon dur ing the first 23 d following anthesis with an oligosaccharide distribu tion which closely resembled that observed in extracts from vegetative tissue. Seed maturation was accompanied by a decline in fructan conte nt and a marked reduction in the number of separable oligosaccharides observed. During imbibition and germination, total fructan contents fe ll further; however, 4 d after imbibition, there was some elaboration of higher oligosaccharides. The results are discussed in relation to t he activity of the enzymes involved in fructan metabolism in higher pl ants.