QUANTITATIVE CHANGES OF SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATES IN STEMS OF SOLID- AND HOLLOW-STEMMED WHEATS DURING GROWTH

Abstract

Soluble carbohydrate of stems of wheat grown in the Lethbridge area followed a similar trend in solid- and hollow-stemmed varieties. At the time of heading, most soluble carbohydrate was present as fructose, glucose, and sucrose. After heading, the quantities of reducing sugars declined, while oligosaccharide and fructosan built up. Oligosaccharide formed the dominant carbohydrate stored in stems prior to ripening of the grain. In general, the contents of soluble carbohydrate in stems of Golden Ball were at a higher level than those of Rescue or Thatcher. Rescue and Golden Ball, two solid-stemmed varieties resistant to the wheat stem sawfly, showed no consistent deficiency of soluble carbohydrate in stems at any growth period.