The Development of Adventitious Roots on Hardwood Cuttings of Gooseberries

Changes in percentage dry weight and in carbohydrate levels and distribution were followed in Golden Brown Lockyer onion bulbs for three months at storage temperatures of 4°, 15°, 25° and 37°C. The percentage dry weight within the bulbs increased from the outer to the inner leaf bases. Storage temperature and length of storage did not influence water loss. Sucrose concentrations increased from the outer leaf bases to become highest in the inner leaf bases, and in all leaf bases were higher at higher temperatures. Glucose and fructose levels also tended to increase from outer to inner leaf bases. After eight weeks fructose levels increased rapidly at the lower storage temperatures and this is attributed to low-temperature hydrolysis of fructans. The only fructan detected was the trisaccharide fraction, which was barely detectable in outer leaf bases and maximal in the inner ones. Trisaccharide levels were generally lower at the lower temperatures, thus supporting the suggestion of low-temperature hydrolysis of fructans. No information was obtained regarding storage temperature effects on fructans having a higher degree of polymerization than the trisaccharide. The results are discussed relative to temperature and time and the development of storage rots.