The accumulation of soluble carbohydrates such as sucrose and oligosaccharides is commonly associated with the desiccation-tolerant state in orthodox seeds.
In animals a high sucrose diet causes a reduction in the life expectancy, increase in weight, elevation of triglycerides and an impaired glucose tolerance test.
Mosquitoes were found not to respond even to the aqueous component of sucrose syrup, and subsequent tests employed crumpled dry paper as controls.
In the heat-soluble preparations, drying rates were intermediate between soluble proteins and sucrose, with rates inversely related to sugar concentration.
Plants contained little starch but large quantities of sucrose were found, mainly located in the trunk.
I stopped the sucrose for 5 days, then resumed it for 4 days (60 ml/ day).
Planteose contents declined during priming in seeds of both species, while sucrose contents increased or remained constant.
Thus, there is substantial evidence that sucrose plays a role in dehydration tolerance of seeds.
