Chemical composition of viscin mucilage from three mistletoe species--a comparison
1989
Gedalovich-Shedletzky, E. | Delmer, D.P. | Kuijt, J.
The viscin of mistletoes is a unique tissue which serves to provide strong adherence of the seed of the parasite to the host branch. The viscin mucilage of three species, Phoradendron californicum and Arceuthobium americanum (Viscaceae) and Phthirusa pyrifolia (Loranthaceae), was analysed. The major component of the mucilage of Pho. californicum and A. americanum was polysaccharidic; of this, neutral sugars comprised the largest portion, but substantial amounts of uronic acids and proteins were also present. Xylose and arabinose were the most abundant of the neutral sugars, and analysis showed glycine to be the most abundant amino acid as well as the presence of higher-than-average amounts of histidine. In contrast, in the mucilage of Pht. pyrifolia glucose was the most abundant neutral sugar and the protein content was substantially higher. Based on the differences in composition observed among the different species the future use of viscin components as taxonomic markers is suggested.
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