Primary cell walls of monocotyledons: polysaccaride compositions

Hamburg

Max Wiedebusch

2007

S. 29-42

5 Abb., zahlr. Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200151621

Plant Cell Wall : Recent Advances and New Perspectives : Proceedings of the 2nd New Zealand-German Workshop on Plant Cell Walls, S. 29-42

The monocotyledons can be divided into two groups, commelinids and non-commelinids. The primary cell walls of both groups contain cellulose microfibrils embedded in a matrix consisting mostly of non-cellulosic polysaccharides. In the cell walls of most non-commelinid monocotyledons, the matrix has large proportions of pectic polysaccharides and smaller proportions of xyloglucans. The commelinid monocotyledons, first identified by the presence of ester-linked ferulic acid in their primary cell walls, have primary cell walls with diverse non-cellulosic polysaccharide compositions. The cell walls of the palms (Arecales), the most basal commelinid order, have polysaccharide compositions similar to those of the cell walls of most non-commelinid monocotyledons, but also have small proportions of feruloylated glucuronoarabinoxylans. Taxa in the graminoid clade of the Poales, which includes the grasses and cereals (Poaceae), have in their primary cell walls large proportions of feruloylated glucuronoarabinoxylans, small proportions of pectic polysaccharides, and variable proportions of (1.3),(1.4)-beta-D-glucans. Small proportions of (1.3),(1.4)-beta-D-glucans also occur in the cell walls of the Xyridaceae and cyperoid clade of the Poales. However, the polysaccharide compositions of the cell walls of the non-graminoid Poales, the Zingiberales and the Commelinales are intermediate between those of the graminoid Poales and the palms. The possible evolution of the polysaccharide compositions of monocotyledon primary cell walls is discussed.