FRUCTAN-HYDROLYZING ACTIVITIES FROM LOLIUM-RIGIDUM GAUDIN

Fructan- and sucrose-hydrolyzing activity was extracted from plants of Lolium rigidum Gaudin. Sucrose-hydrolyzing activity varied 30-fold be tween different plant parts and parts of different ages. In contrast, fructan-hydrolyzing activity only varied two-fold. At least four beta- fructofuranosidase activities were partially purified from mature vege tative tissues of Lolium rigidum. The beta-fructofuranosidases were ch aracterized by their different elution patterns on various chromatogra phic media and their relative rates of hydrolysis of sucrose and fruct an extracted from different sources. Fructan-hydrolyzing activities we re partially purified that hydrolyzed fructan containing predominantly 2-1 glycosidic linkages relatively more rapidly than fructan containi ng predominantly 2-6 glycosidic linkages. beta-fructofuranosidases tha t were relatively more active against fructan than sucrose when compar ed with activity present in the crude extract, were inhibited by sucro se. It is concluded that it is necessary to use appropriate fructan su bstrates and to consider the possible involvement of all beta-fructofu ranosidase activities in hydrolysis of fructans in grasses.