Variation in Sugar Content in Potato Tubers Caused by Wounding and Its Possible Relation to Respiration

Abstract

1. A marked increase in sugar content is shown to follow wounding. The maximum increase found in the experiments reported varied from 53 to 68 per cent of the original sugar content. 2. In general the sugar content rises to a maximum after wounding, reaching a high point after several days, and again falls off. It is possible that there is a preliminary maximum not so great as the other at the end of a few hours. 3. From microscopical observations and chemical analyses this increase in sugar content is thought to be brought about by activities leading to callus formation. 4. The augmentation of respiration which follows wounding can be explained logically on the basis of the increase in the sugar content of the cells, although it is pointed out that because of other factors the curves for respiration and sugar content will not be exactly parallel.