662 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIII, No. 8 
SUMMARY 
The pentosan content of the corn plant varies in different parts of the 
plant and at different stages of growth. Prom a percentage of 7.4 in 
the kernel, it increases throughout the stages of germination, growth, 
and reproduction until a percentage of 31.8 is reached in the cob at 
maturity. The several parts show minor fluctuations, but in general 
there is a steady increase both in the actual weight of pentosans and in 
the percentage of pentosans. 
During the first 30 days after planting the weight of pentosans in¬ 
creased from 2.2 gm. to 4.1 gm. per 100 plants, although there was no 
increase of dry matter. Pentosans are evidently formed from starch or 
other dry matter. After 30 days there is a very rapid increase in both 
the pentosans and dry matter. 
Only a trace (0.37 per cent) of methyl pentosans was found. Addi¬ 
tions of rhamnose to the com tissue were made, and the total pentosans 
were determined. Although a quantitative recovery was not obtained, 
the weight of phloroglucid soluble in hot alcohol was approximately 
equal to that obtained from both rhamnose and com tissue separately. 
Free pentoses were found to be present in the com plant throughout 
its period of growth. They varied from 0.6 to 1.7 per cent of the dry 
matter. The maximum percentage was found in the stalks at the time 
when the kernels are forming. This is also the time at which the total 
sugars reach their maximum. 
A destruction of the pentosans of green corn stover was obtained by 
pure cultures of a number of organisms. The maximum destruction was 
12.8 per cent by a cellulose fermenter Bacillus flavigena. A chromogenic 
pentose fermenter occurring on green corn tissue also produced a con¬ 
siderable destruction of pentosans. 
LITERATURE CITED 
(1) Borghesani, Guido. 
1910. OBER DAS VERHAETNIS DER METHYEPENTOSANE GEGEN 0 BER DEN PENTO- 
SANEN IN EINIGEN ARTEN VON PFEANZENSAMEN. In JotlT. Landw., 
Jahrg. 58, Heft i, p. 77-79. 
(2) Chaemot, Guillaume de. 
1894. pentosans in peants. In Amer. Chem. Jour., v. 16, no. 3, p. 218-228. 
(3) - 
1894. pentosans in plants. In Amer. Chem. Jour., v. 16, no. 8, p. 589-611. 
(4) Davis, William A., and Sawyer, George Conworth. 
1916. STUDIES OF THE FORMATION AND TRANSLOCATION OF CARBOHYDRATES IN 
PEANTS. III. THE CARBOHYDRATES OF THE LEAF AND LEAF STALKS OF 
THE POTATO. THE MECHANISM OF THE DEGRADATION OF STARCH IN THE 
LEAF. In Jour. Agr. Sci., v. 7, pt. 3, p. 352-384, 3 fig. References, 
p.384.. 
(5) EllETT, Walter Beal. 
1904. UBER DIE QUANTITATIVE BESTIMMUNG DER PENTOSEN UND DER METHYL- 
PENTOSEN in naturprodukten. 50 p. Gottingen. Inaug.-Diss. 
Abstract in Jour. Landw., Jahrg. 53, Heft 1, p. 13-25. 
(6) Ewell, Ervin E. 
1892. THE carbohydrates OF the COFFEE BERRY. In Amer. Chem. Joum., 
v. 14, no. 6, p. 473-476. 
(7) GoetzE, Karl. 
1895. BEITRAGE ZUR FRAGE UBER DIE BIEDUNG RESP. DAS VERHAETEN DER 
PENT AGE YKOSEN im pflanzEN-und TiERKORPER. 35 p. Merseburg, Germany. 
Inaug.-Diss., Jena. Reprinted with Theodor Pfeiffer as joint author in 
Landw. Vers. Stat., Bd. 47, Heft 1, p. 59-93. 1896. 
(8) Kr6ber, E. 
1901. UNTERSUCHUNGEN UBER DIE PENTOSANENBESTIMMUNGEN MITTEEST DER 
saezaure-pheorogeucinmethode nebst einige anwendungen. In 
Jour. Landw., Bd. 48, Heft 4, p. 357-384. 
