Accumulation & transformation of sugars in stalks of sugar cane. Origin of glucose & fructose in the inner space

Abstract

Tracer studies on sugar accumulation in sugar cane storage tissue show that a sucrose precursor or derivative is transferred across the membrane separating the outer and inner space of the tissue. Sucrose is released into the inner space. Glucose and fructose in the inner space arise by inversion of sucrose. In tissues from immature internodes, the turnover time for the sucrose pool was about 8.6 hours and 31-46 hours for the glucose-fructose pool. Available evidence indicates that there are 2 parallel pathways for sucrose uptake and a single major pathway for sucrose accumulation. Inversion of inner space sucrose appears to be a key reaction in determining whether sucrose is stored.