Abstract

The sugar-phenol relationship of Thanjavur wilt-affected coconut palms was studied in detail. In the diseased palms, there was an increase of total and reducting sugars in tissues of root, bark and cortex of bleeding area. In leaf, no marked difference could be seen in total sugars but there was reduction in reducing sugars. The bark and cortex above the bleeding area also showed high concentrations of both total and reducing sugars. Non-reducing sugars also accumulated in root, leaf, bark and cortex of severaly affected palms. Total phenol content also increased in leaf, bark and cortex while in root, there was no significant difference. The content of Ortho dihydroxy phenols was also high in bark and cortex while there was no marked difference in leaf and root. The bark and cortex above the bleeding area of wilt affected palms also showed more total and ortho dihydroxyphenols than apparently healthy palms

Keywords: