THE PATH OF CARBON IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS. XXVI. UPTAKE AND TRANSPORT OF METHYLGLUCOPYRANOSIDE THROUGHOUT PLANTS

14Carbon methyl--D-glucopyranoside (14C-MeG) was applied to roots and shoots of Beta vulgaris L. and the label was tracked as it was transported and assimilated, primarily as a plant nutrient. Foliar application resulted in 6.7% of the 14C-MeG absorbed within 15 min of the solution drying into leaves. Roots in liquid medium with dissolved 14C-MeG absorbed approximately 97% of the 14C-label in 22 h. Whether fed in the light or dark, 40% of the 14C-MeG that was applied appeared in the cellulose fraction, incorporated completely intact. Rapid incorporation of 14C-MeG into the insoluble fraction with few 14C-labeled metabolites found in the soluble fraction were observed. In contrast to roots, a higher percentage of 14C-MeG was incorporated into starch and lipids of shoots.