Sugar Accumulation Cycle in Sugar Cane. II. Relationship of Invertase Activity to Sugar Content & Growth Rate in Storage Tissue of Plants Grown in Controlled Environments.

Imimiature interniodes of sugar canie contain an aci(l in% ertase witlh optinmuiim activity between pH 5.0 and 5.5 (1.2). The level of this enzynme shovws marke(d seasonal variation, being high w-hen growth is rapid an(l low otherwise. Acidl invertase is absenit fromii mature interno(les of sugar cane varieties wvith a high capacity for sugar storage, whiclh instea(l containi a neutral invertase wvith optimuml activity at 1)H 7.0. In this paper. we report meastirements of acid and neutral invertase activities, rates of elongation of internodes. ani( sugar contents of plants which were subjected to different temiperature and wvater regimiies in controlle(l environment greenhouses.