THE OCCURRENCE OF APIOSE IN LEMNA (DUCKWEED) AND OTHER ANGIOSPERMS

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Abstract
The branched-chain pentose apiose reacts with the benzidine-trichloro-acetic acid reagent on paper chromatograms to give a yellow spot with an intense white fluorescence in ultraviolet light; on chromatograms developed with butanol-acetic acid-water this spot lies between fucose and rhamnose. Examination of paper chromatograms of hydrolysates of whole plant material has shown the presence of a substance with these properties in a wide variety of species. Among the plants examined two members of the Lemnaceae (Lemna minor and Wolffia arrhiza) were found to be especially rich sources, comparable with Posidonia australis. Measurements of the apiose content of fractions derived from Lemna have shown that the sugar is present at a concentration of about 4% in the holocellulose, and part of this is retained in the a-cellulose left by extraction with 24% (w/v) potassium hydroxide containing borate.