Publication Date
1993
Description
Histochemical and biochemical analyses have confirmed the presence of condensed tannins in a number of southern African tropical grasses. The ability to precipitate proteins, total phenols, condensed tannin and proanthocyanidin levels were significantly higher in mature leaves of Eulalia villosa than in young leaves. The ratio of condensed tannin to Jlavan 3,4-diols indicated that the young leaf material contained more monomeric unpolymerised flavan 3,4-diol units than mature leaves. The trend is repeated in the ratio 'of proanthocyanidin to flavan-4-ols, These low molecular weight proanthocyanidin precursors probably do not have the ability to precipitate proteins, The histochemical tests can be used to establish the presence of condensed tannins and their precursors in plant tissue, but are not suitable for the identification of compounds which precipitate protein and thus function as digestibility reducing compounds, Low phenolic and tannin levels monitored in senescent leaves may be ascribed to increased tannin polymerization or to the complexing of tannins with other cellular constituents.
Citation
Wolfson, M M.; du Toit, E W.; and Chesselet, P, "Effect of plant leaf age on the production of tannins, phenols, proanthocyanidins and flavanols in Eulalia villosa" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session14/4
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of plant leaf age on the production of tannins, phenols, proanthocyanidins and flavanols in Eulalia villosa
Histochemical and biochemical analyses have confirmed the presence of condensed tannins in a number of southern African tropical grasses. The ability to precipitate proteins, total phenols, condensed tannin and proanthocyanidin levels were significantly higher in mature leaves of Eulalia villosa than in young leaves. The ratio of condensed tannin to Jlavan 3,4-diols indicated that the young leaf material contained more monomeric unpolymerised flavan 3,4-diol units than mature leaves. The trend is repeated in the ratio 'of proanthocyanidin to flavan-4-ols, These low molecular weight proanthocyanidin precursors probably do not have the ability to precipitate proteins, The histochemical tests can be used to establish the presence of condensed tannins and their precursors in plant tissue, but are not suitable for the identification of compounds which precipitate protein and thus function as digestibility reducing compounds, Low phenolic and tannin levels monitored in senescent leaves may be ascribed to increased tannin polymerization or to the complexing of tannins with other cellular constituents.
