Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
More information is needed on the growth of secondary plant cell walls in forage species, and the relationship of cell wall structure to rate and extent of digestion. Our overall objective was to relate changes in cell wall composition with maturation to rate and extent of cell wall digestion. The seventh intemode of normal and brown-midrib ( bmr) sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) was harvested at eight maturities beginning with the cessation of intemode elongation. Dry weight per segment was determined for each maturity stage. Lignin accumulation in lntemode 7 increased during maturation, with the rate of lignin synthesis being 40% lower in the bmr genotype when compared to its normal counterpart. Rate of NDF and cellulose digestion averaged 34% higher in the bmr genotype, and rate of digestion appeared to increase with maturity, even though the extent of digestion decreased significantly with increased maturation. Lignin concentration in the cell walls of mature tissues was similar for the normal and bmr genotypes when digestion was completed (140 g kg-1), and suggests that extent of digestion may be limited by the proportion of lignin in the cell wall.
Citation
Cherney, J H.; Volenec, J J.; and Moore, K J., "Cell Wall Composition and Rate of Digestion of Brown-Midrib Sorghum Internodes as Influenced by Maturity" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 5.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses10/5)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Cell Wall Composition and Rate of Digestion of Brown-Midrib Sorghum Internodes as Influenced by Maturity
Kyoto Japan
More information is needed on the growth of secondary plant cell walls in forage species, and the relationship of cell wall structure to rate and extent of digestion. Our overall objective was to relate changes in cell wall composition with maturation to rate and extent of cell wall digestion. The seventh intemode of normal and brown-midrib ( bmr) sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) was harvested at eight maturities beginning with the cessation of intemode elongation. Dry weight per segment was determined for each maturity stage. Lignin accumulation in lntemode 7 increased during maturation, with the rate of lignin synthesis being 40% lower in the bmr genotype when compared to its normal counterpart. Rate of NDF and cellulose digestion averaged 34% higher in the bmr genotype, and rate of digestion appeared to increase with maturity, even though the extent of digestion decreased significantly with increased maturation. Lignin concentration in the cell walls of mature tissues was similar for the normal and bmr genotypes when digestion was completed (140 g kg-1), and suggests that extent of digestion may be limited by the proportion of lignin in the cell wall.
