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Separation of Mesophyll from Non‐Mesophyll Cell Wall Tissue in Indiangrass Leaf Blades
Author(s) -
Piwonka Edward J.,
MacAdam Jennifer W.,
Kerley Monty S.,
Paterson John A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1991.00021962008300020013x
Subject(s) - cell wall , vascular bundle , xylose , palisade cell , spongy tissue , arabinose , lignin , xylem , botany , chemistry , polysaccharide , biology , biochemistry , fermentation
A method to isolate large quantities of non‐mesophyll cell wall material for studying factors that limit the susceptibility of these cell wall polysaccharides to microbial degradation was evaluated. Mesophyll cells were separated from non‐mesophyll cells in indiangrass ( Sorghastrum nutans [L.] Nash) leaf blades by ball milling to separate cells and then sieving to isolate non‐mesophyll cells. The mesophyll fraction was comprised of non‐lignified mesophyll cells contaminated with some fiber (sclerenchyma, xylem, and bundle sheath) particles. The non‐mesophyll fraction was virtually free of mesophyll cells and consisted primarily of lignified cell wall material. The weight ratio of mesophyll to non‐mesophyll cell wall material was 1.2:1. Non‐mesophyll cell walls were similar to mesophyll cell walls in their concentrations of arabinose, mannose, and galactose, and higher in their concentrations of xylose, glucose, p ‐coumark acid, and ferulic acid. The ratio of xylose to arabinose was significantly greater for the non‐mesophyll fraction. Compositional differences between non‐mesophyll and mesophyll cell walls may in part explain the lower susceptibility of non‐mesophyll cell wall material to microbial degradation compared to mesophyll cell wall material.