Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
Lignification of plant tissues restricts degradation of forages by ruminants. The undegradable lignified middle lamella/primary cell wall prevents rumen microbes from accessing undamaged adjacent plant cells. In contrast, walls of non-lignified tissues are completely degradable. Preliminary observations of how deeply rumen microbes could degrade different tissues within 20- to 30-mm long lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem pieces indicated a two-fold range in depth of degradation among stem samples. Studies were undertaken to determine if extent of cell wall degradation in lucerne was influenced by length of stem internodes.
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Influence of Internode Length on Degradability of Lucerne Stems
Lignification of plant tissues restricts degradation of forages by ruminants. The undegradable lignified middle lamella/primary cell wall prevents rumen microbes from accessing undamaged adjacent plant cells. In contrast, walls of non-lignified tissues are completely degradable. Preliminary observations of how deeply rumen microbes could degrade different tissues within 20- to 30-mm long lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem pieces indicated a two-fold range in depth of degradation among stem samples. Studies were undertaken to determine if extent of cell wall degradation in lucerne was influenced by length of stem internodes.
