Sucrose synthesis in cereal grains under oxygen deprivation

The metabolism of carbohydrates is of importance for plant adaptation to an aerobic conditions. In this paper we show that rice seedlings synthesize su crose under anoxic conditions. By contrast, barley is unable to synthesize sucrose under anaerobiosis. The activity of sucrose-phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.1.14 UDP-glucose: D-fructose-6-phosphate-2-glucosyl transferase), the m ost important enzyme for the synthesis of sucrose in plants, is not negativ ely affected by anaerobiosis in rice, while a negative effect on the activi ty of this enzyme is observed in anoxic barley grains.