Distribution o f hydrolysis products o f inositol penta- and hexaphosphates in some humid tropical soils

Abstract

'I'he proportions of' inositol jjentaphosphate (IPb) and hexaphospliate (IPa) varied significantly and were found to be related to the organic matter and organic P contents of the soils sampled. Esters of myo + D-chiro IPf, together accoimted for 48 to 81 per cent and scylloinositol represented about 19 to 52 per cent of the total hcxaphosphate. Simple correlation revealed that alkaline conditions probabK’ favoured the synthesis of scyllo //■’e by phytase and multiple correlation suggested that organic matter, organic P and pH were collectively related to the amounts of different inositol polyphosphate fractions in soil samples. The ratio of IP^ to IP;, varied between 0-7 and 4-3 and that of myo + D-chiro to scyllo IP^ between 0-9 and 4-3.