Time Course of Starch Biosynthesis Enzymes Activity and Root Tuber Starch of Four Cassava Cultivars

Abstract

To understand the accumulation rule of cassava root tuber starch, the amylose, amylopectin and total starch content of fresh root tuber, the enzyme activities of sucrose synthase (SuS, EC 2.4.1.13) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS, EC 2.4.1.14) of leaves, the enzyme activities of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase, EC 2.7.7.27), soluble starch synthase (SSS, EC 2.4.1.21) and starch branching enzyme (SBE, EC. 2.4.1.18) of tubers were assessed by using cultivars SC201, SC205, GR891 and GR911 leaves and root tubers during their growth period, respectively. The results as follows: the enzyme activity of leaf SPS and the synthesis direction of SuS showed the highest at August, 2010, however the enzyme activity of the decomposing direction of SuS formed parabolic curve; the enzyme activity of tuber AGPase showed an increased then decreased single peak curve, the enzyme activity of tuber SSS oscillating decreased, while the enzyme activity of SBE was relatively stable; the amylose, amylopectin and total starch contents of fresh cassava tuber were all gradually increased along with the growth period. This research would enrich our knowledge of the time course of amylose, amylopectin and total starch contents of fresh cassava tuber, and above related enzyme activities.