The Reserve Polysaccharides of Various Corn Genotypes

75 Pages·010.276 MB·English

by  Dvonch, William

PU R D U E UNIVERSITY
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION
William Dvonch
BY
ENTITLED THE RESERVE POLYSACCHARIDES OF VARIOUS
_________________ CORN GENOTYPES________________________
COMPLIES WITH THE UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS ON GRADUATION THESES
AND IS APPROVED BY ME AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF
Doctor of Philosophy
Professor IN Charge of Thesis
Heap of School or Department
TO THE LIBRARIAN:-----
•SS»
THIS THESIS IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS CONFIDENTIAL.
GRAD. SCHOOL FORM 9—3.49—1M

THE RESERVE POLYSACCHARIDES OF
VARIOUS CORN GENOTYPES
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty
of
Purdue University
by
William Dvonch
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of
Doctor of Philosophy
June, 1950
ProQuest Number: 27714147
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writer wishes to express his
appreciation to Dr. Roy L. Whistler for
suggesting and directing this work. He
is indebted to Dr. H. H. Kramer and Mr.
Gerald Dunn of the Department of
Agronomy for the supply of genetic mater­
ial, Dr. H. J. Yearian of the Department
of Physics for the X-ray diffraction
patterns, and Mr. L. C. Shenberger and Mr.
Lee House for the photomicrographs. He
is particularly indebted to Elsie Mihe-
lich Armstrong for much of the analytical
work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ...............................................
INTRODUCTION.............................................
MATERIALS AND ANALYTICAL METHODS........................
Production of the Genetic Material...................
Isolation of Starch........ ..........................
Analytical Methods. ............ .............. .
Determination of water-soluble polysac­
charides and starch. .......................
Micro-Kjeldahl protein determination.............
Iodine sorption..................................
Gelatinization temperature of the starch
granules............................. .........
X-ray diffraction patterns of the starch
granules.......................... ............
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..................................
Reproducibility of Gene Action...... ................
Gene Dosage Effects..................................
The Starch Fraction......................... .......
NATURE OF THE WATER-SOLUBLE POLYSACCHARIDES............
Experimental....... ..................................
Isolation of the water-soluble polysaccharides...
Purification of Fraction 1....................
Preparation of ^-amylase........................
Preparation of limit dextrins....................
Periodate end-group assay........................
Determination of color with iodine...........
Formation of cupric chloride patterns...........
Table of Contents (Gont. )
Page
Discussion............. 46
NATURE OF THE AMYLOSE AND AMYLOPECTIN COMPONENTS
OF THE STARCH......................................... 49
Experimental............... 50
Fractionation procedure.......................... 50
Determination of viscosities...... 51
Results and Discussion................... 52
CONCLUSIONS ........................................ 57
BIBLIOGRAPHY.................... 61
VITA
LISTS OF TABLES AND FIGURES
List of Tables
Table Page
1. Reproducibility of Iodine Sorption Values......... 13
2. The Genetic Constitution, Endosperm Description,
and Quantities of Polysaccharides in the
Endosperm of Various Genotypes.................. 15
3* Comparison of the Quantities of Polysaccharides
in Non-Isogenic Endosperm Types................. 19
4. The Quantities of Polysaccharides in Various
Genotypes Involving suamsu...................... 21
5* The Quantities of Polysaccharides in Various
Genotypes Involving Su suam............ 21
6. The Quantities of Polysaccharides in Various
Genotypes Involving Su su....................... 22
7- The Endosperm Description and Quantities of
Polysaccharides in the Endosperm of Various
Homozygous Genotypes................. 24
8. Microscopic Appearance and X-ray Diffraction
Data for the Starches of Various Homozygous
Genotypes .......... 27
9* Prominent Rings in the Diffraction Patterns
of Various Starches............ 34
10. Amounts of Starch not Dissolved upon Autoclaving
3 Hours at 124°. ........ 35
11. End-Group Assay of Limit Dextrins by Periodate
Oxidation...... . 43
Table Page
12. Properties of Fraction 1 and 2 from Golden
Bantam Sweet Corn............................... 45
13* Yields of Fraction 1 and 2 from Golden Bantam
Sweet Corn....... 46
14. Properties of the Amylose and Amylopectin
Isolated from Various Starches.................. 53
15* Corrected Per Cents of Amylose in Various Starches. 56
List of Figures
Figure
1. The Relationship Between Per Cent Starch and Per
Cent Amylose Content of the Starch in the
Endosperm of Various Homozygous Genotypes....... 25
2. Starch Granules from American Maize Co. Corn
Starch (normal). X 600........... 28
3* Starch Granules Typical for Golden Bantam Sweet
Corn, no. 18, 9 > 19 » 21, and 30 Starches.
X 600.......... 29
4. Starch Granules Typical for no. 24, 27, and
29 Starches. X 600............... 30
5* Starch Granules from no. 35 (supersugary) Starch,
X 600............................................ 31
6. Starch Granules from no. 36 (waxy) Starch. X 600... 32
7. Starch Granules from no. 38 (sugary waxy) Starch.
X 600............................................ 33
THE RESERVE POLYSACCHARIDES OF VARIOUS CORN GENOTYPES
AN ABSTRACT
The reserve polysaccharides of corn endosperm are known
to be affected by four sets of alleles, (Su suainsu), (Su^su^) .
(Du du), and Qtfx v^). Certain combinations of these genes
were studied for their effect on the amount of water-soluble
polysaccharides and starch and the amylose content of the
starch. Previous work by Cameron with the gene pairs suamsu
and Du du was verified. Similar results were found for the
pairs Su^suy, Du du: Su su, SuySUv: Su su. Du du. A rise
in amylose content of the starch was always accompanied by
a drop in the amount of starch and an increase in the amount
of water-soluble polysaccharides. The total polysaccharides
were always less than the total in normal corn endosperm
whenever amylose content was increased in the starch.
The effect of the sugary gene su was most marked in that
it always caused a large increase in the amount of water-
soluble polysaccharides in every background. This was evi­
dent in sugary waxy (su wx) endosperm also; however, amylose
was still absent.
The starch from the triple recessive su su^du had an
amylose content of 63^. Cameron1s su du type gave a similar
value and was found in similar amounts.
Comparison of identical combinations of the genes studied
in non-isogenic lines grown in a uniform environment showed