Journal of Plant Physiology 2004-09-01

2-C-methyl-D-erythritol is a major carbohydrate in petals of Phlox subulata possibly involved in flower development.

Hiroyuki Enomoto, Katsunori Kohata, Masayoshi Nakayama, Yuichi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Ichimura

Index: J. Plant Physiol. 161 , 977-980, (2004)

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Abstract

2-C-methyl-D-erythritol, a soluble carbohydrate that is not ubiquitously found in higher plants, was detected in the ethanol extract from Phlox subulata petals and isolated using HPLC. The isolated compound was identified by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Cl-MS spectra. 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol was a major soluble carbohydrate in petals, leaves and stems. In petals, the concentration of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol markedly increased during flower development and opening and was similar in concentration to glucose, a ubiquitous metabolic sugar. This suggests that 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol may contribute to flower opening in association with glucose in the P. subulata.