Changes in cell-wall polysaccharides in relation to seedling development and the mobilisation of reserves in the cotyledons of Lupinus angustifolius cv. Unicrop

Some 22% of the dry weight of the cotyledons of resting seeds of Lupinus angustifolius cv. Unicrop has been shown to be non-starch polysaccharide material comprising the massively thickened walls of the storage mesophyll cells. On hydrolysis this material released galactose (76%), arabinose (13%), xylose (4%), uronic acid (7%): only traces of glucose were detected indicating the virtual absence of cellulose from the walls. Changes in the amount and composition of this material following germination have been studied in relation to parameters of seedling development and the mobilisation of protein, lipid and oligosaccharide reserves. Starch, which was not present in the resting seed, appeared transitorily following germination: under conditions of continuous darkness starch levels were reduced. During the period of bulk-reserve mobilisation, 92% of the non-starch polysaccharide material disappeared from the cotyledons. The residual cell-wall material released galactose (14%), arabinose (19%), xylose (24%) and uronic acid (43%). The galactose and arabinose residues of the cotyledonary cell walls clearly constitute a major storage material, quantitatively as important as protein. The overall role of the wall polysaccharides in seedling development is discussed.