OLIGOSACCHARIDES SYNTHESIS IN STORED GREE N PEAS

Green pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds were quartered and vacuum-infiltrat ed in the pre sence of C-14(U)-sucrose for 2.5 min. After decanting th e radioactive solution, the seed pieces were incubated aseptically for 2 days at room temperature. Subsequent changes in carbohydrate conten t in relation to the accumulation of oligosaccharides were studied. Th e radiolabel from labelled sucrose was incorporated mainly into starch but also into the oligosaccharides: raffinose, stachyose, and verbasc ose. Our data indicate that sucrose in maturing pea seeds can serve as a substrate for oligosaccharides biosynthesis.