Agave leaf and fructan structure (IMAGE)
Caption
The analysis showed that fructans have a branched chemical structure that forms a kind of porous sponge on which water can be retained. This keeps the plant hydrated despite high temperatures. The illustration shows an Agave striata leaf and the molecular structure of its fructans, with water molecules bound around the fructan chains.
Credit
Monica Ortiz-Martinez, CIO
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