Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Starch-sugar interconversion inSolanum tuberosum L. II. Influence of membrane permeability and fluidity

  • Published:
American Potato Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A strong relationship was found between membrane permeability and starch to sugar conversion in stored potatoes. Tissue from tubers stored at low temperature had higher sugar content and more permeable membranes than from that of tubers stored at high temperature. Tubers, moisture stressed during growth and stored at 5.5 C, accumulated more reducing sugars and had more permeable membranes than tubers from normally irrigated plants when stored at the same temperature. The basal portion of Russet Burbank tubers accumulated more sugars and was also found to have significantly more permeable membranes than the apical portion. Examination of membrane order with spin-labeled lipid probes showed that the order parameter of amyloplast membranes was less at low temperatures than when measured at higher temperatures. Membranes examined with spin-labeled lipid probes from tubers stored at 5.5 C and 15.5 C showed similar order parameters at all temperatures measured between 0 and 25 C with a linear decrease in S values at higher temperatures. These results strongly indicate a physical change of membranes with changing temperature, thus influencing sugar accumulation, which is also reversible, as indicated by loss of sugars during the reconditioning process.

Resumen

Una fuerte relación fue encontrada entre la permeabilidad de la membrana y la conversión de almidón a azúcares en papas almacenadas. Tejidos de tubérculos almacenados a bajas temperaturas, tuvieron mayor contenido de azúcares y más membranas perm≸bles que aquellos tubérculos almacenados a altas temperaturas. Tubérculos sometidos a stress de humedad durante el crecimiento y almacenados a 5.5°C acumularon más azúcares reductores y tuvieron más membranas permeables que los tubérculos regados normalmente y almacenados a la misma temperature.

La porción basal de tubérculos Russet Burbank, acumuló más azúcares y se le encontró también poseer significativamente más membranas permeables que en la porción apical. Un exámen del orden de la membranas, con ensayos de lipidos spin-labeled mostró que el parámetro de orden de membranas de amiloplastos fue menor a bajas temperaturas que cuando era medido a altas temperaturas. Las membranas examinadas de tubérculos almacenados a 5.5°C y 15.5°C bajo pruebas de lípidos spin-labeled mostraron parámetros de orden similares a todas las temperaturas medidas entre 0 y 25°C con un descenso linear de valores S a altas temperaturas. Estos resultados indican fuertemente un cambio físico de las membranas con la temperatura, influenciando así la acumulación de azucares que es también reversible, tal como indica la pérdida de azúcares durante el proceso de recondicionamiento.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Arreguin-Lozano, B. and J. Bonner. 1949. Experiments on sucrose formation by potato tubers as influenced by temperature. Plant Physiol 24:720–738.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Crafts, C.C. 1967. Respiration of potato tissue as influenced by previous storage temperatures of the tubers. Am Potato J 44:174–181.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Glinka, G. and L. Reinhold. 1971. Abscisic acid raises the permeability of plant cells to water. Plant Physiol 48:103–105.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Griffith, O.H. and P.C. Jost. 1976. Lipid spin labels in biological membranes.In: L.J. Berlinger, ed., Spin Labeling Theory and Application. Academic Press, New York, pp. 453–523.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Iritani, W.M. and L. Weller. 1971. The development of translucent end tubers. Am Potato J 50:223–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Iritani, W.M., L. Weller and P.S. Russell. 1973. Relative differences in sugar content of basal and apical portions of Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J 50:24–31.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Iritani, W.M. and L. Weller. The influence of low fertility and vine killing on sugar development in apical and basal portions of Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J (in press).

  8. Isherwood, F.A. 1973. Starch-sugar interconversion inSolanum tuberosum. Phytochemistry 12:2579–2591.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Isherwood, F.A. and M.G.H. Kennedy. 1975. The composition of the expressed sap from cold stored potatoes. Phytochemistry 14:83–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Isherwood, F.A. 1976. Mechanism of starch-sugar interconversion inSolanum tuberosum. Phytochemistry 15:33–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jones, P.C.T. 1970. The effect of light, temperature and anaesthetics on ATP levels in the leaves ofChemopodium rubrum andPhaseolus vulgaris. J Exp Bot 21:58–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kennedy, M.G.H. and F.A. Isherwood. 1975. Activity of phosphorylase inSolanum tuberosum during low temperature storage. Phytochemistry 14:667–670.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lyons, J.M. 1973. Chilling injury in plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 24:445–466.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McKersie, B.D. and J.E. Thompson. 1977. Lipid crystallization in senescent membranes from cotyledons. Plant Physiol 59:803–807.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ohad, I., I. Friedberg, A. Ne’eman and M. Schramm. 1971. Biogenesis during maturation and storage of potato tubers. Plant Physiol 47:465–477.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pollock, C. and T. Ap Rees. 1975. Activities of enzymes of sugar metabolism in cold stored tubers ofSolanum tuberosum. Phytochemistry 14:613–617.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Poovaiah, B.W., Y. Mizrahi, H.C. Dostal, J.H. Cherry and A.C. Leopold. 1975. Water permeability during tomato fruit development in normal and in non-ripening mutant. Plant Physiol 56:813–815.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pressey, R. 1970. Changes in sucrose synthetase and sucrose phosphate synthetase activities during storage of potatoes. Am Potato J 47:245–251.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Raison, J.R., J.M. Lyons, R.J. Mehlhorn and A.D. Keith. 1971. Temperature-induced phase changes in mitochondria membranes detected by spin labeling. J Biol Chem 246:4036–4040.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Raison, J.R., J.M. Lyons and W.W. Thomson. 1971. The influence of membranes on the temperature-induced changes in the kinetics of some respiratory enzymes of mitochondria. Arch Biochem Biophys 142:83–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Razin, S., A. Ne’eman and I. Ohad. 1969. Selective reaggregation of solubilized mycoplasma-membrane proteins and the kinetics of membrane reformation. Biochem Biophys Acta 193:277–293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Shekhar, V.C. and W.M. Iritani. Starch-sugar interconversion inSolanum tuberosum. I. Influence of inorganic ions. Am Potato J (in press).

  23. Sowokinos, J.R. 1971. Relationship of sucrose synthetase cleavage activity to the chemical and physical maturity of Norchip and Kennebec potatoes. Am Potato J 48:37–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Thimann, K.V. and E.W. Samuel. 1955. The permeability of potato tissue to water. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 41:1029–1033.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Weist, S.C. and P.L. Steponkus. 1977. Accumulation of sugars and plasmalemma alterations. Factors related to the lack of cold acclimation in young roots. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 102:119–123.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quality Control, Mid America Potato Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan

    V. C. Shekhar

  2. Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA

    W. M. Iritani (Professor)

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA

    J. Magnuson (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. V. C. Shekhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. M. Iritani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Magnuson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Scientific Paper No. 5018. College of Agriculture Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman. Project No. 1949. Supported in part by a grant from the following processors: Carnation Company, Rogers Walla Walla, Pride Pak Food, Chef Reddy, and Twin City Foods, Incorporated. This paper was written in partial fulfillment for a Ph.D. degree.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shekhar, V.C., Iritani, W.M. & Magnuson, J. Starch-sugar interconversion inSolanum tuberosum L. II. Influence of membrane permeability and fluidity. American Potato Journal 56, 225–235 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853369

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853369

Key words

Search

Navigation