α-and β-Glycosidases in maize roots.

Four glycosidases were analyzed in 10 mm apical segments prepared from growing roots (15 mm) of Zea mays L. The pH optima were found to be 5.8 for β-glucosidase, 4.4 for β-galactosidase, 6.4 for α-glucosidase and 6.0 for α-galactosidase. The β-glucosidase showed 4-fold higher activity than the β-galactosidase. The distribution of the β-glucosidase activity was signifcantly different from that of the β-galactosidase, α-glucosidase and α-galactosidase.