Nitrogenous constituents of the thoracic muscle of the African migratory locust (Locusta migratoria migratorioides).

when expressed as a percentage of the total nitrogen. This observation is in agreement with those recorded previously for typical storage organs. 3. The two plants contained very large amounts of the imino acid, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. Nitrogen present in azetidine-2-carboxylic acid represented more than 50% of the total nitrogen of Polygonatum rhizome. The imino acid was also present in high concentrations in the young shoots of both plants, but its concentration in the mature shoots was much lower. 4. The analytical data indicate that the root may form a major site of synthesis of azetidine-2carboxylic acid in Convallaria. It is more difficult to draw conclusions for Polygonatum since the very high concentrations present in its rhizome at all stages of growth tended to overshadow smaller changes of concentration elsewhere in the plant. REFERENCES