Observations on the Scutellum. III. Ferulic Acid as a Component of the Cell Wall in Wheat and Barley

Abstract

Fractions enriched in the cell walls of wheat and barley scutella were prepared from isolated, ungerminated scutella. The cell-wall fractions were subjected to hot, alkaline extraction under an inert atmosphere. An ether extract was investigated for phenolic compounds by thin-layer chromatography using three solvent systems and by ultraviolet spectroscopy. The major autofluorescent component of the scutella of both wheat and barley is ferulic acid. There is apparently no p-coumaric acid.