Abstract
To examine re-growth and distribution of carbohydrates, this study measured the dry weight of leaves, bulbs, basal stem and roots, and the sugar concentration in each organ of Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler) grown by sand culture for 20 days after harvesting. The total dry weight first decreased for 12 days after cutting, followed by an increase. Nevertheless, the total dry weight recovered to only about 80% of its initial weight, when the leaf length became harvest size (40 cm and over) on the twentieth day after cutting. Especially, after the initial decrease, the dry weight of the root only reached about 50% of its initial weight. This finding indicated that the Chinese chive root plays a significant role as the carbohydrate storage organ. A high degree of fructose was demonstrated in the leaf, whereas sucrose was dominant in other organs (bulb, basal stem and root), showing the highest concentration in the basal stem. However, the great decrease in concentration of sucrose in each organ was shown from the fourth day after cutting. Total sugar contents within alcohol soluble solids of the plant were lowest on the fourth day after cutting, then, increased with re-growth of the leaf, and consequently, 20 days after cutting, exceeded the initial sugar content of the plant. During the examination it was also discovered that the total carbohydrate (saccharide) content declined to the minimum level (60% of the initial level) on the eighth day after cutting. A partial recovery up to 72% followed in the remaining 20 day period. The main cause of this is related to the content of polysaccharides, which increased only slightly after a significant decrease during the initial eight days after cutting.
