| Abstract: | Carbohydrate contents of both the photosynthetic and the storageorgans of Narcissus tazetta L. were determined at four stagesin their development under both ‘natural’ growingconditions and under conditions of varying light intensities. Starch was abundantly stored in all the storage organs, particularlyin the bases of the photosynthetic organs under high light intensityand also at the second dormant stage. However, its level remainedrelatively stable in the green part of the foliage leaf andthe scape at different stages and appeared not to be affectedby light except at very high intensity. It was found in boththe bundle sheaths and guard cells. Sucrose, which is the first sugar of photosynthesis, was continuouslyexported from the green parts of the blade and the scape totheir bases where it was also stored. In the dark the sucroselevel became low in the green blade and the green scape butit rose with increase of light intensity. The hexose level was very low at the dormant stage in all organsexamined but rose as they matured and exceeded that of sucrosein the green organs except in high light intensity. Hexose isformed presumably as a result of sucrose hydrolysis and is constantlylost, presumably through respiration. At senescence sugar disappeared almost completely from all theorgans, while nearly 10 per cent of residual dry weight of starchremained in the dead tissues. The interrelationship betweenthe carbohydrates and their movement in the leaf is discussed. |
