| Abstract: | Tissue pieces excised from orchard-grown apple trees duringa growing season exhibited different and changing capabilitiesof transferring 14C-label from sucrose, fructose and sorbitolto other soluble carbohydrates. All tissues incorporated fructose14C into sucrose but only leaves incorporated significant amountsof label from sucrose into sorbitol. As seeds developed andmatured, their ability to incorporate 14C from sorbitol andfrom fructose into sucrose increased. Sorbitol and sucrose arethe major translocated photosynthetic products of apple leavesbut whereas sorbitol appears to be an end-product of synthesis,sucrose may be considered as a substrate involved more directlyin carbohydrate utilization. Key words: Malus domestica, Apple, Carbohydrate interconversions |
