On the content of cell-wall constituents in various plant materials

Authors

• Maija-Liisa Salo Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Helsinki
• Terttu Mäkinen Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Helsinki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71632

Abstract

In this investigation, analyses were made of the contents of hemicellulose, cellulose, crude lignin, crude protein and ash in 43 different plant materials. In addition, the proportions of various sugar anhydrides in the hemicellulose fraction were determined. The carbohydrate analyses were made by hydrolysing to monosaccharides, except for the uronic anhydrides, which were determined by the decarboxylation method. The sum of the cell-wall constituents thus determined was subsequently compared with Paloheimo’s membrane substances and crude fibre. Large variations in the cell-wall composition were found between different plant materials. Furthermore, there were large differences in the solubility of the cell-wall substances of different plant materials in the hydrolysing procedures used in determinations of membrane substances and crude fibre. The hemicellulose composition of different species in the same genus and even in the same family was found to be similar in definite plant parts and at definite growth stages. This appears to be a generic characteristic in the chemical taxonomy of plants.