The effect of salinity on the allocation of carbon to energy-rich compounds in Euphorbia lathyris
Hydroponically-grown Euphorbia lathyris plants were exposed to increasing levels of NaCl to study the effect of salinity on carbon allocation within the plant. Salinization caused a decrease in overall growth and an increase in the percentage of both hydrocarbons and sugars. The hydrocarbon fraction, containing mostly triterpenoids, increased by 50% and the sugar fraction, containing mostly sucrose, was increased by 88%. This resulted in a shift of available biomass from lignocellulose to the more usable sugars and hydrocarbons. A two-fold increase in the activity (per leaf area) of the enzyme ..beta..-Hydroxymethylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase was also observed with increased salinity. This enzyme is involved in the biosynthesis of the triterpenoids, and its response to increased salinity indicates a role for this enzyme in the regulation of plant hydrocarbon productivity. 10 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 6756113
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-22911; CONF-870364-2; ON: DE87006942
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Energy from biomass and wastes, Orlando, FL, USA, 16 Mar 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
OXIDOREDUCTASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
SACCHAROSE
YIELDS
TERPENES
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
EUPHORBIA
SODIUM CHLORIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISACCHARIDES
ENZYMES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SACCHARIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
550200 - Biochemistry