Summary
Water-soluble and ethanol-soluble carbohydrates were extracted from leaves, shoots, roots, rhizomes and flowers ofParodiochloa flabellata (Lam.) Rasp. (=Poa flabellata (Lam.) Hook f.) throughout a growing season. Very high levels of soluble carbohydrates were found in the shoot, comprising up to 71% of the shoot dry weight. There was no significant storage in the rhizome. It is suggested that the production of storage fructans with a degree of polymerization greater than 14, rather than oligosaccharides or starch, may be related to the cold environment. Relationships between the onset of senescence and levels of fructans suggest that recovery of sugars from dying tissue is high. The sugar reserves together with preformation of the flowers should ensure production of seed however poor the summer or long the winter might be. The high levels of fructans may partly inhibit growth but may also offer some degree of freezing resistance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bacon JSD, Loxley R (1952) Seasonal changes in the carbohydrates of Jerusalem Artichoke. Biochem J 51:208–213
Beevers L, Cooper PJ (1964) Influence of temperature on growth and metabolism of Rye Grass seedlings. Crop Sci 4:139–146
Davies W (1939) The Grasslands of the Falkland Islands. Government Printer, Stanley, Falkland Islands
Dickenson DB, Edelman J (1966) The metabolism of fructose in plants. 6. Transfructosylation in living tissue of Jerusalem Artichoke. J Exp Bot 17:612–619
Eagles CF (1967) Variation in the soluble carbohydrate content of climatic races ofDactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot) at different temperatures. Ann Bot 31:645–651
Edelman J, Jefford TG (1968) The mechanism of fructosan metabolism in higher plants as exemplified inHelianthus tuberosus L. New Phytol 67:517–531
Fonda RW, Bliss LC (1966) Annual carbohydrate cycle of alpine plants on Mount Washington, New Hampshire. Bull Torrey Bot Club 93:268–277
Gunn TC (1976) The autecology ofPoa flabellata (Lam.) Hook. f. PhD Thesis. University of Manchester
Harley JL, Loughman BC (1966) Phosphohexisomerase in beech mycorrhiza. New Phytol 65:157–160
Jefford TG, Edelman J (1961) Changes in content and composition of the fructose polymers ofHelianthus tuberosus during the growth of daughter tillers. J Exp Bot 12:117–187
Jefford TG, Edelman J (1963) Metabolism of fructose polymers in plants. 2. The effect of temperature of the carbohydrate changes and morphology of stored tubers ofHelianthus tuberosus. J Exp Bot 14:52–62
Kacpeska-Palacz A (1978) Mechanism of cold acclimation in herbaceous plants. In: Li PH, Sakai A (eds) Plant cold hardiness and freezing stress — mechanisms and crop implications. Academic Press, New York London, pp 139–152
Levitt J (1980) Responses of plants to environmental stresses, vol 1. Chilling, freezing and high temperature stress, 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York London
Mooney HA, Billings WD (1960) The annual carbohydrate cycle of alpine plants as related to growth. Am J Bot 47:594–598
Pollock CJ (1979) Pathway of fructosan synthesis in leaf bases ofDactylis glomerata. Phytochemistry 18:777–779
Pollock CJ (1982) Oligosaccharide intermediates of fructan synthesis inLolium temulentum. Phytochemistry 21:2461–2465
Pollock CJ (1984) Sucrose accumulation and the initiation of fructan biosynthesis inLolium temulentum L. New Phytol 96:527–534
Pollock CJ, Jones T (1978) Fructan metabolism in temperate grasses. Rep Welsh Plant Breed Stn for 1977, pp 167–168
Pollock CJ, Jones T (1979) Seasonal patterns of fructan metabolism in forage grasses. New Phytol 83:9–15
Pollock CJ, Riley GJP, Stoddart JL, Thomas H (1980) The biochemical basis of plant response to temperature limitation. Rep Welsh Plant Breed Stn for 1979, pp 227–246
Pollock CJ, Ruggles PA (1976) Cold-induced fructosan synthesis in leaves ofDactylis glomerata. Phytochemistry 15:1643–1646
Pratt RM, Smith RIL (1982) Seasonal trends in chemical composition of reindeer forage plants on South Georgia. Polar Biol 1:13–32
Smith D (1968) Carbohydrates in grasses. 4. Influence of temperature on the sugar and fructosan composition of timothy plant parts at anthesis. Crop Sci 8:331–334
Smith D (1972) Carbohydrate reserves of grasses. In: Youngner VB, McKell CM (eds) The biology and utilization of grasses. Academic Press, New York London, pp 318–333
Smith D, Grotelueschen RD (1966) Carbohydrates in grasses. 3. Estimations of the degree of polymerization of the fructosans in the stem bases of Timothy and Bromegrass near seed maturity. Crop Sci 8:210–212
Smith RIL, Walton DWH (1973) Calorific values of South Georgian plants. Bull Br Antarct Surv 36:123–127
Smith RIL, Walton DWH (1975) South Georgia, Sub-Antarctic. In: Rosswall T, Heal OW (eds) Structure and function of Tundra ecosystems. Ecol Bull 20:399–423
Walton DWH (1982) Floral phenology in the South Georgia vascular flora. Bull Br Antarct Surv 55:11–25
Warren Wilson J (1966) Analysis of plant growth and its control in arctic environment. Ann Bot 30:383–402
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gunn, T.C., Walton, D.W.H. Storage carbohydrate production and overwintering strategy in a winter-green tussock grass on South Georgia (Sub Antarctic). Polar Biol 4, 237–242 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999768
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999768