CELL WALL-BOUND p-COUMARIC AND FERULIC ACIDS IN ITALIAN RYEGRASS

Abstract

Cell wall-bound p-coumaric and ferulic acids were determined for stems of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sampled at different stages of growth. The greater part of the detected p-coumaric acid was linked to cell wall polymers through ester linkages. No definite relationship was found between the accumulation of p-coumaric acid esters and plant maturation. Some part of the detected ferulic acid was simultaneously esterified and etherified to cell wall polymers. Such ester- and ether-linked ferulic acid augmented with increasing maturity, suggesting that the number of ferulic acid cross-links in the cell wall matrices of ryegrass increases with plant maturation.Key words: p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, Italian ryegrass, cell wall, phenolic acids