Abstract
Changes in carbohydrate content were examined in cut tissue and Ceratocystis fimbriata infected tissue (diseased tissue) of sweet potato. Determination of carbohydrate in various layers from the surface toward inner part indicated that starch was more decreased in diseased tissue than in cut tissue at the corresponding layers, and starch degradation was gradually low toward inner part both in cut and diseased tissues. Reducing sugars in cut tissue were increased toward inner part, while in the part near the surface of diseased tissue they were decreased. Sucrose content was nearly constant among various layers, except for a decrease in the first layer adjacent to the surface in diseased tissue incubated for 48hr. The time course analysis of changes in carbohydrate showed that carbohydrate was metabolized sequentially, i.e. reducing sugars were utilized firstly, sucrose secondly and starch thirdly. Time course patterns were affected by the storage period. Ten month-stored tissue showed a less response to cutting or infection in terms of changes in carbohydrate content than two month-stored tissue.
