Soluble Carbohydrates of Fruit Plants

Abstract

IN the course of an investigation of the organic constituents of fruit plants, the soluble carbohydrates of shoots of apple, plum, etc., have been under investigation by the method of paper chromatography, using as solvents butanol–acetic acid–water (4 : 1 : 5)¹, butanol–ethanol–water (4 : 1 : 5)² and ethyl acetate–acetic acid–water (3 : 1 : 3)³. Whatman's No. 1 and No. 54 filter papers were employed. Spots on the paper chromatograms due to carbohydrates were revealed by using the reagents described by Partridge^1,2,4. Examination of the papers after spraying was carried out both in ultra-violet light and daylight, the ultra-violet light being particularly useful in revealing weak spots after treatment with aniline-phthalic acid. For the detection of sorbitol a further reagent described below was employed.