Abstract
The aleurone grains have been shown to be the major depository for magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, phytic acid and the ether extractable organic acids of the peanut seed. Two of the ether extractable acids were found to be important binding agents for the magnesium and potassium in the aleurone grains. These acids were isolated and identified as citric acid and oxalic acid. About 34-40% of the magnesium appears to be bound by citric acid and oxalic acid. Phytic acid is thought to bind most of the remainder of the metal. Several other components of the ether extractable acids were recognized, but they were not identified. A method has been devised for isolating intact relatively pure globoids from the aleurone grains. About 30% of the mass of the globoids has been accounted for as the mixed salts of phytic acid, oxalic acid, magnesium and potassium. The nature of the remaining 70% of the globoids was not determined but it is thought to be protein. About 50% of the magnesium, 80% of the calcium, 49% of the manganese, 13% of the potassium, 50% of the phytic acid and 50% of the oxalic acid of the aleurone grains was shown to be present in the globoids. The remainder of these constituents appear to be distributed at random in the ground substance of the aleurone grains. There appears to be an identical cation deficit in the aleurone grains and in the isolated globoids. The chemical identity of the missing cations was not determined but it is thought to be protein.
Sharma, Chandra Bhan (1965). The metal stores in aleurone grains of the seeds of Arachis hypogaea L. with special reference to magnesium-binding agents. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -177587.