Abstract
The concentration of glucan, mucilage, soluble carbohydrates, and malic acid were determined in Opuntia bigelovii Engelm. during a 23-week period. The experiment began during the dry summer by irrigation to stimulate Crassulacean acid metabolism and was followed by 13 weeks of drought. After the 13-week drought period, the plants were irrigated throughout a 10-week period until late December. The maximum level of malic acid determined each day at dawn decreased throughout the drought period and increased after irrigation. High levels of malic acid occurring at dawn are indicative of active Crassulacean acid metabolism. Soluble carbohydrates also decreased during drought and increased after irrigation. Both glucan and mucilage increased slightly for about 9 weeks during the drought period and then began to decrease. Irrigation was accompanied by a further decrease in concentration of glucan and mucilage. Since both glucan and mucilage changed in a similar manner and since their concentrations in the tissue are correlated, it is hypothesized that both function as storage carbohydrates. Whereas glucan is the nocturnal substrate for malic acid synthesis, there are no data to support or refute a similar hypothesis for mucilage.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Dawn malic acid maxima fell during drought and rose after irrigation.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.
Cylindropuntia bigeloviie1 - Treatment
- drought periode0
- Outcome
- maximum level of malic acide0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The maximum level of malic acid determined each day at dawn decreased throughout the drought period and increased after irrigation.”
e1“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”
Claim · model-written summary
Soluble carbohydrates decreased in drought and increased after irrigation.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.Cylindropuntia bigeloviie1
- Treatment
- droughte0
- Outcome
- Soluble carbohydratese0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soluble carbohydrates also decreased during drought and increased after irrigation.”
e1“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”
Claim · model-written summary
Glucan increased slightly for about nine drought weeks, then decreased, with further decline on irrigation.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.Cylindropuntia bigeloviie1
- Treatment
- drought periode0
- Outcome
- glucane0
- Direction
- increased slightlye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both glucan and mucilage increased slightly for about 9 weeks during the drought period and then began to decrease. Irrigation was accompanied by a further decrease in concentration of glucan and mucilage.”
e1“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”
Claim · model-written summary
Mucilage increased slightly for about nine drought weeks, then decreased, with further decline on irrigation.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.Cylindropuntia bigeloviie1
- Treatment
- drought periode0
- Outcome
- mucilagee0
- Direction
- increased slightlye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both glucan and mucilage increased slightly for about 9 weeks during the drought period and then began to decrease. Irrigation was accompanied by a further decrease in concentration of glucan and mucilage.”
e1“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”
Claim · model-written summary
Glucan and mucilage tissue concentrations were correlated.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.Cylindropuntia bigeloviie1
- Organ / stage
- tissuee0
- Outcome
- concentrations in the tissuee0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“their concentrations in the tissue are correlated”
e1“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors hypothesize that glucan and mucilage act as storage carbohydrates.
- Taxon
- Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.Cylindropuntia bigeloviie2
- Outcome
- storage carbohydratese0
- Qualifier
- both glucan and mucilagee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“it is hypothesized that both function as storage carbohydrates.”
e1“both glucan and mucilage changed in a similar manner”
e2“Opuntia bigelovii Engelm.”