Composition of Sieve Tube Sap from Macrocystis Pyrifera (phaeophyta) with Emphasis on the Inorganic CONSTITUENTS1

A quantitative accounting of the solids in the sieve tube sap from Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) e. Ag. was performed. The major organic compounds (mannitol, amino acids, and protein) and inorganic cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were present near previously reported levels. The anions, until now unreported (except for iodide), included chloride as the major inorganic ion, bromide, phosphate, nitrate, and bicarbonate as the major inorganic carbon species. Sulfate and ammonium were below the detection limits of 1.5 ppm and 2 ppm, respectively. The elements B and As were also present although their speciation was not determined.