CHANGES OF CARBOHYDRATES DURING LOTUS RHIZOME DEVELOPMENT OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN

The changes of dry materials, starch, reducing sugar, total soluble sugar and soluble protein contents during lotus rhizome development of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn were studied. The results were as follows: the contents of dry materials, starch, soluble sugar and soluble protein had a significant increase during the development of lotus rhizome. Reducing sugar levels increased at early stage and decreased promptly at middle stage, then it kept a steady level until the end stage of rhizome development. The main storage nutrition of lotus rhizome was starch.