The fructosan composition of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) roots was examined at intervals from November 1971 to December 1972. During the spring depletion of carbohydrate reserves was accompanied by flowering; towards the end of the summer these reserves were restored. The variation of hydrolase and transfructosylase activities present in soluble protein extracts prepared from the roots were consistent with the observed changes in fructosan composition. The response of dandelion root tissue discs to treatment with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid showed a similar variation to that of the initial carbohydrate content, suggesting that the availability of carbohydrate reserves limits the response throughout the season.
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Rutherford et al. (1974) studied this question.