The polyuronide constituents of forage grasses

Abstract

The pectic substances and hemicelluloses of Dactylis glomerata were studied in detail. The former constitute less than 2% of the dry grass, are normal in type, and are present mainly as pectates. Hemicellulose (5 types are distinguished) constitutes in all some 20% of the dry grass, yielding on hydrolysis varying mixtures of xylose, arabinose and galactose, together with uronic acids in certain cases. Xylose accounts for the greater part of the sugar in hydrolyzates. Comparative analyses of ash, water-soluble substances, reducing substances, pectins, hemicelluloses, cellulose, and xylan associated with cellulose in the cell walls of Poa trivialis, Phleum pratense, Festuca rubra var. fallax, F. elatior, F. pratensis, Lolium italicum, Cynosurus cristatus, and D. glomerata are given.