ISHS Acta Horticulturae 430: VII International Symposium on Flowerbulbs
FRUCTAN METABOLISM IN GEOPHYTES |
| Authors: | W.B. Miller, G. Legnani, A.P. Ranwala, M.B. Hardin |
| Abstract:
Fructans are polymers of D-fructose linked to a terminal D-glucose residue as in sucrose. Although fructans are widespread in the Liliaceae, Iridaceae, and Asteracerae families, and are thus important in many commercial geophytic food crops (e.g., asparagus, onion, and jerusalem artichoke), comparatively little research has been conducted on the distribution, function and metabolism of fructan in ornamental geophytic crops. This paper briefly reviews distribution, metabolism, and chemical aspects of fructans, and highlights current work in our lab on fructan in ornamental geophytes, including induction of tuberization and fructan accumulation in Dahlia seedlings and initial data on fructan and oligosaccharide pool sizes in tulip bulbs during the late stages of cooling and greenhouse forcing. | |
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