EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY AND EXCESS UPON CERTAIN CARBOHYDRATE AND NITROGENOUS CONSTITUENTS IN GUAYULE

Abstract

The nature of the carbohydrates of translocation and the reserve carbo- hydrates in guayule has only recently been elucidated. McRARY and TRAUB (28) isolated a fructosan, tentatively identified as inulin, and HAS- SID et al. (19) definitely characterized this substance as inulin. Later, TRAUB and SLATTERY (41) showed that in addition to inulin, levulins are also present in guayule tissue, and in relatively greater amounts. TRAUB aid SLATTERY (41) also indicated the importance of relating the 89 per cent. ethanol soluble and insoluble levulins to planit functioning. TRAUB, SLAT- TERY and WALTER (42) have shown that the carbohydrates of translocation in guayule are apparently the free reducing sugars since they are always present in relatively small amounts in the roots, stems alnd branches but predominate in the leaves. These workers have also shown that of the total free reducing sugars, the amounts of free nion-fructose sugars are always greater than the amounits of free fructose in spite of the fact that the chief reserve carbohydrates in guayule are polymers of fructose, levu- lins and inulin. The coniditions of the present experiment were not con- ducive to large accumulations of inulin, or higher polymer levulins, insofar as the experiment consisted of a phase of rapid growth.