Abstract
Orchardgrasses of two clonal lines (Cl79, Cl637) were planted in Wagner pots after first cutting, and were grown at the controlled temperatures of 15/10, 20/15, 25/20 and 30/25℃ (day/night), and outdoors, respectively. After 40 days, they were harvested and analysed for nonstructural carbohydrate composition by means of liquid chromatography. The contents (%DM) of monosaccharides declined with increasing temperature, their ranges being 1.4-0.5% for glucose and 1.8-0.2% for fructose. The effects of temperature on sucrose contents (3.7-6.5%) were not consistent, but the percentages of sucrose in total nonstructural carbohydrates were high and constant at and above 20/15°. Fructosan contents were higher at low temperatures, though maximum value was only 0.7%. Starch contents ranged from 0.4-1.6%, showing minimum values at 20/15°. Total nonstructural carbohydrate levels were lowest at 25/20°(Cl79) and at 20/15°. (Cl637), the higher levels at higher temperatures were due to the increases in sucrose and starch. Sugar contents of the plants grown outdoors were within the ranges with the plants in the controlled environments, except for sucrose of Cl637 and starch of Cl79.
