Polyamines and inorganic ions extracted from woody tissues by freeze-thawing

Abstract

A simple and fast method for extraction of major inorganic ions (Ca, Mg, Mn, K, and P) and cellular polyamines from small quantities of wood and woody plant tissues is described. The method involves repeated freezing and thawing of samples instead of homogenization or wet ash digestion. The efficiency of extraction of both polyamines and inorganic ions by these methods was compared for 10 different tissues. Drillbit shavings generated from wood disks or increment cores were also compared with ground wood as the starting material for ion analysis by this newly developed method of freeze-thawing. Direct use of drillbit shavings circumvents the need for making wood chips by hand and grinding in a Wiley mill. Moreover, freeze-thawing not only eliminates the need for various tissue homogenizers but is also simple enough that a large number of samples can be processed simultaneously. This method seems to be particularly useful with extremely small samples of 25 mg or less, e.g., shavings from individual growth rings of mature trees and differentiating tissues grown in vitro.

Citation

Minocha, Rakesh; Shortle, Walter C. 1994. Polyamines and inorganic ions extracted from woody tissues by freeze-thawing. In: Vozzo, J.A., comp. Research and applications of chemical sciences in forestry, proceedings of the 4th Southern Station Chemical Society; 1994 February 1-2; Starkville, MS. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-104. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 28-37.