Anatomy, nutritional value and cell wall chemical analysis of foliage leaves in Guadua chacoensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), a promising source of forage

PANIZZO, C. C.; FERNÁNDEZ, P. V.; COLOMBATTO, D.; CIANCIA, M.; ANDREA S. VEGA

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2017 vol. 97 p. 1349 - 1358

0022-5142

BACKGROUND: The present study combines morphological and anatomical studies, cell wall chemical composition analysis, aswell as assessment of the nutritional value of Guadua chacoensis foliage leaves.RESULTS: Foliage leaves of G. chacoensis are a promising source of forage because: (a) as a native woody bamboo, it is adaptedto and helps maintain environmental conditions in America; (b) leaf anatomical studies exhibit discontinuous sclerenchyma,scarcely developed, while pilose indumentum, silica cells, prickles and hooks are also scarce; (c) it has a high proteincontent, similar to that of Medicago sativa, while other nutritional parameters are similar to those of common forages; and(d) glucuronoarabinoxylan, the major extracted polysaccharide, has one-third of the 4-linked 𝜷-D-xylopyranosyl units of thebackbone substituted mainly with 𝜶-L-arabinofuranose as single stubs or non-reducing end of short chains, but also 5-linked𝜶-L-arabinofuranose units, terminal 𝜷-D-xylopyranose and D-galactopyranose units, as well as 𝜶-D-glucuronic acid residues andsmall amounts of its 4-O-methylated derivative.CONCLUSION: These results constitute the first report on this species, and as culms are utilized in constructions and crafts, theremaining leaves, when used as forage, constitute a byproduct that allows an additional income opportunity.