DISTRIBUTION OF TARTARIC ACID IN THE LEAVES OF CERTAIN ANGIOSPERMS

Stafford , Helen A. (Reed Coll., Portland, Oregon.) Distribution of tartaric acid in the leaves of certain angiosperms. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(5): 347–352. 1959.—An optically active isomer of tartaric acid has been definitely identified and quantitatively analyzed in the leaves of 9 species of angiosperms, and trace amounts have been tentatively identified in about 22 others out of 49 species examined. In species where identification was positive, the quantity of tartrate varied from 5 to 200 μmoles/g. fresh wt. of leaf tissue; identification was based on paper chromatography and on the metavanadate colorimetric test. The 9 species include Vitis vinifera, V. labruscana, V. californica, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, P. quinquefolio, Pelargonium hortorum, Bauhinia malabarica, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Coleus blumei. Optical rotation data of the isolated acid indicate that the tartrate in Pelargonium and Parthenocissus quinquefolio is the (+) -isomer similar to that reported for Vitis vinifera, but the opposite to that reported for Bauhinia reticulata. The relationship of tartrate to other organic acids is discussed.