Behavior of Long‐chain Fructosan in the Basal Top of Timothy as Influenced by N, P, and K, and Defoliation1

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Abstract
An automatic gel‐filtration technique was used to isolate and examine long‐chain fructosan, the main watersoluble carbohydrate in the basal top tissue of timothy (Phleum pratense, L.), before and after defoliation. Timothy plants were grown on either the P‐ or K‐deficient soil that received different rates of N, P, and K. Watersoluble carbohydrates extracted from K‐deficient plants, unlike those deficient in N and P, showed an effluent pattern with an extremely low peak of long‐chain fructosan and a relatively high peak of sugars. This indicated that K played an important role in the accumulation of long‐chain fructosan. Defoliation sthnulated the decolnposition of long‐chain fructosan to sugars without noticeable accumulation of shorter‐chain fructosans. Total water‐soluble carbohydrates reached a minimum level 7 days after the cutting and were restored at 16 days mainly front the accumulation of sugars. No change in the average molecular size of the long‐chain fructosan was observed during accumulation and decomposition of the water‐soluble carbohydrates.

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