title: Metabolically active glucosides in oleaceae seeds: I. The effects of germination, growth, and hormone treatments.
abstract: The seeds of six woody species of Oleaceae representing three genera, contain high concentrations of water-soluble glucosides, with major absorption maxima below 240 nanometers. In Fraxinus americana seeds three of these compounds, designated GL-3, GL-5, and GL-6, account for almost 10% of the dry weight. They are found in the endosperm and embryo but not in the pericarp. While the level of GL-5 is not particularly influenced by the physiological state of the embryo, that of GL-3 and GL-6 decreases as a result of germination and growth during a 10-day period. As the concentrations of GL-3 and GL-6 decrease, new ultraviolet-absorbing compounds are formed. The changes in the concentration of the ultraviolet-absorbing glucosides during cold temperature after-ripening, prior to germination, are small. When germination of dormant embryos is induced with gibberellic acid, the concentrations of GL-3 and GL-6 decrease in a manner similar to that observed with nondormant embryos. In the presence of abscisic acid no losses of GL-3 and GL-6 were observed. It is suggested that GL-3 and GL-6 fulfill some definite functions in the germination and growth of F. americana embryos, and that gibberellic acid and abscisic acid can exert a regulatory effect on the metabolism of these glucosides.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, State University College of Forestry at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sondheimer
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Galson
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sheets