HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jung, H. G. Articles by Casler, M. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Jung, H. G. Articles by Casler, M. D. Agricola Articles by Jung, H. G. Articles by Casler, M. D. Related Collections Crop Growth and Development Maize

FORAGE & GRAZINGLANDS

Maize Stem Tissues

Impact of Development on Cell Wall Degradability

^a USDA-ARS Plant Science Res. Unit and U.S. Dairy Forage Res. Center Cluster, Univ. of Minnesota, Dep. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, 411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108
^b USDA-ARS U.S. Dairy Forage Res., 1925 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706

^* Corresponding author (jungx002{at}umn.edu)

Grass degradability declines as cell wall and lignin concentrations increase during maturation. The role of tissue development and lignification in decline of stem degradability was examined in maize (Zea mays L.) internodes sampled at 10 stages of growth from early elongation through plant physiological maturity. The fourth elongated internode above ground level was collected from three maize hybrids grown in a 2-yr, replicated field trial at St. Paul, MN. Internode cross-sections and ground samples were incubated in vitro for 24- and 96-h with rumen microbes. Tissue degradation was examined by light microscopy and degradability of cell wall polysaccharide components from ground internodes was determined. All tissues in elongating internodes were completely degradable except for protoxylem vessels, which was the only lignified tissue. After elongation, degradability of all tissues declined markedly except for phloem, which never lignified. Tissues with thick, lignified secondary walls (sclerenchyma and rind-region parenchyma) required longer incubation times for observable degradation. Cell wall polysaccharide components were highly degradable in immature internodes, but degradability declined after elongation and reached a minimum by Sampling Date 8, with glucose and xylose residues having the greatest reductions in degradability. Cell wall polysaccharide degradation was related to lignin concentration and ferulate cross-linking in a complex manner.

Abbreviations: LSD, least significant difference

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. S. Dhugga Maize Biomass Yield and Composition for Biofuels Crop Sci., November 7, 2007; 47(6): 2211 - 2227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. G. Jung and M. D. Casler Maize Stem Tissues: Cell Wall Concentration and Composition during Development Crop Sci., June 20, 2006; 46(4): 1793 - 1800. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]