Biochemical Changes in Secondary Metabolites in Wounded and Deteriorated Cassava Roots

Abstract

Bluish fluorescent and phenolic components were produced in cassava roots in response to cutinjury, and in relation to physiological deterioration and microbial deterioration. The former proved to consist of five coumarin components, the main three of which were scopoletin, scopolin and esculin, and the other two were scopoletin- and esculetin-containing conjugates. A main component of the latter was (+)-catechin. Some enzymes pertaining to the production of the secondary metabolites such as acid invertase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase and peroxidase were formed in cut-injured tissue and in non-infected tissue adjacent to the soft-rotten part.