The role of sorbitol in the carbon-metabolism of the Kelsey plum

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Abstract
Sorbitol was identified as a constituent of the Kelsey plum. Expts. are descr. tracing the accumulation of sorbitol during growth and the changes that take place in the respirable material of the plums on storage at 13 and 25[degree] C. The mature Kelsey plum contains, on the average. 2.8% of sorbitol, most of which is accumulated during the latter part of its growth cycle. During growth of the plum sorbitol is apparently stored in place of hexoses when the latter have reached a maximum conc. Loss of respirable material from stored plums can be almost completely accounted for in terms of sorbitol, sugar and acid. Sorbitol is lost rapidly in storage, but the loss of sugar is dependent upon the initial sorbitol conc. At 13 and 25[degree] mature plums of a high sorbitol content show no significant loss of sugar. Plums of low sorbitol content show marked sugar loss only when most of the sorbitol has disappeared. When plums are stored at 1[degree] for 25 days and then transferred to 7.5[degree] or 20[degree] they show a 10-15% increase in total sugar. The extent of this sugar increase depends upon the initial sorbitol content and on its rate of exhaustion in store.

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