Changes in ascorbic acid content of turnip-leaf discs as influenced by light, temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1948 · Arch. Biochem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5520537

Somers, G F; Kelly, W G; Hamner, K C

Discs cut from leaves of turnips and other plants have been used to study the influence of various factors upon the rate of change in ascorbic acid content of leaf tissues. These discs are floated on a mineral nutrient solution and exposed to various environmental conditions before being analyzed. The rate of decrease in ascorbic acid content of turnip leaf discs floated in the dark was measured and found to have the temperature coefficient characteristic of ordinary thermal reactions over the range from 10/sup 0/C to 30/sup 0/C. The influence of the same temperatures upon the rate of ascorbic acid accumulation in turnip leaf discs in light of about 1400 foot-candles was also measured. At the lower temperatures, the temperature coefficient is greater than at higher temperatures. Carbon dioxide is necessary for ascorbic acid accumulation in illuminated leaf discs. The accumulation of ascorbic acid in turnip leaf discs requires light, and over the intensities used, the rate of accumulation increases as the light intensity is increased. The results obtained with leaf discs from other plants also indicate that light influences the changes in ascorbic acid content.

• Research Organization: Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Lab., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 5520537
• Journal Information: Arch. Biochem.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Biochem.; (United States) Vol. 18:1; ISSN ARBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ASCORBIC ACID
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BRASSICA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FOOD
KINETICS
LEAVES
METABOLISM
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
REACTION KINETICS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VEGETABLES
VISIBLE RADIATION
VITAMINS