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Phenolic acids released from bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) by sequential sodium hydroxide treatment in relation to biodegradation of cell types
Author(s) -
Akin Danny E,
Hartley Roy D,
Rigsby Luanne L,
Morrison W Herbert
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740580208
Subject(s) - ferulic acid , lignin , cynodon dactylon , biodegradation , chemistry , sodium hydroxide , cell wall , sodium , xylem , coumaric acid , nuclear chemistry , botany , chromatography , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology
Sections of solvent‐extracted bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L Pers) leaf blades were treated sequentially with increasing concentrations of sodium hydroxide. The amounts of saponifiable phenolic acid monomers and cyclobutane dimers released and the digestibility of the treated blades (ie % dry weight loss) were determined. Leaf sections were examined by scanning electron microscopy for biodegradation of cell types and histochemically (light microscopy) for lignin after treatment with sodium hydroxide. Treatment with 0.1 m sodium hydroxide for 1 h resulted in only minor changes from untreated sections. However, this treatment for 24 h released 86% of the ferulic acid, 65% of the dimers, and c 50% of the p ‐coumaric acid. Digestibility was increased from 6.5% in the untreated control to 56.6%. Substantial loss of the slowly biodegradable tissues (ie epidermis and parenchyma bundle sheath) and partial biodegradation and disruption of the refractory tissues (ie sclerenchyma, xylem and mestome sheath) occurred; histochemical reactions for lignin were less intense after NaOH treatment. Treatment with 1 m sodium hydroxide for 24 h released 50% of the p ‐coumaric acid and the remainder of the alkali‐extractable ferulic acid and dimers, increased digestibility to 72%, and increased biodegradation of mesophyll and phloem. Mestome sheath cell walls only gave a histochemical reaction for phenolics and the reaction was weak after 1 m NaOH treatment. Alkali treatment increased the biodegradation of all cell types, with lignified tissues reduced to single‐cell fibres after 1 and 2 m treatments.