Sugars, Phosphorus, and Iron in Purple Nutsedge

Abstract

Purple nutsedge(Cyperus rotundusL.) plants were analyzed for free reducing sugars, free glucose, free plus acid hydrolyzable fructose, phosphorus, and iron. The only sugars detected were sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Sucrose was the most concentrated sugar in the shoots with the greatest concentration in the younger leaves. Sucrose was also the most concentrated sugar in mature rhizomes. Glucose and fructose were the most concentrated sugars in the actively growing rhizomes and tubers. Phosphorus was concentrated in the actively growing leaves and rhizomes, while iron was most concentrated in older tissues including rachises with seedheads, mature shoots, tubers, and rhizomes.