INFLUENCE OF TOP REMOVAL ON THE CARBOHYDRATE LEVELS OF ALFALFA CROWNS AND ROOTS GROWN IN A GNOTOBIOTIC ENVIRONMENT

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Abstract
Changes in carbohydrate levels in crowns and roots because of top removal of mature plants grown in the absence of detectable microorganisms were determined for the first time. Plants of Medicago sativa L. cultivar Du Puits were grown in modified Hoagland’s solution and sand-perlite mixture in a gnotobiotic environment. When the plants were four months old they were divided into three groups, and each group was cut back to a different level every two weeks. At the end of six weeks of trimming, the root carbohydrate levels were determined by gas chromatography of the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. The degree of clipping caused a reduction in fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and starch. There was an increase in mannose and galactose, suggesting an increase in the galactosemannans due to the clipping. All attempts to isolate microorganisms on or in the roots were negative.