A specific method for the determination of soluble sugars in plant extracts using enzymatic analysis and its application to the sugar content of developing pear fruit buds

• Published in: Analytical biochemistry Vol. 151; no. 2; pp. 403 - 408
• Main Authors: Blunden, Christine A., Wilson, Michael F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.12.1985; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Applied sciences; beta-Fructofuranosidase; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates; Carbohydrates - analysis; enzymatic analysis; Exact sciences and technology; fructose; Fructose - analysis; Fruit; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; galactose; Galactose - analysis; Galactose Dehydrogenases; glucose; Glucose - analysis; Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Glycoside Hydrolases; Hexokinase; mannose; Mannose - analysis; Mannose-6-Phosphate Isomerase; Other biological molecules; Other techniques and industries; Plant Extracts - analysis; plant material; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet - methods; sucrose; Sucrose - analysis; glucose; mannose; enzymatic analysis; plant material; fructose; galactose; sucrose; Ose; Vegetals; Analysis
• ISSN: 0003-2697; 1096-0309
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(85)90195-2

A simple manual method for the routine analysis of glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, and sucrose in plant material is described. The technique is demonstrated using various seeds known to form part of the diet of the bullfinch ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula L.), a pest of commercial orchards in southeast England. The method involves the overnight extraction of the sugars with 62.5% aqueous methanol, followed by the conversion of the individual sugars to gluconate 6-phosphate (or, in the case of galactose, to galactono-γ-lactone) by specific enzymes, and their determination spectrophotometrically.