Studies on the Hydrolysis by Carbohydrases of Plant Cell-Wall
Constituents in Relation to Pasture Quality
R.W. Bailey and D.I.H. Jones
Applied Biochemistry Division, DSIR, Palmerston North
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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1971, 31: 82-91
Enzyme preparations from rumen micro-organisms and the mould
Trichoderma viride have been used to follow hydrolysis rates of
herbage structural carbohydrates in neutral detergent residues from
macerated plant tissues. Nylon bag digestion studies in the rumen on the
same material suggest that the enzyme hydrolysis rates are relevant to
rumen digestion. Differences have been detected in hydrolysis rates of
cell walls from 'Grasslands Ruanui' and 'Grasslands Manawa' ryegrass
with the Manawa material often, but not always, hydrolysed faster.
Studies with isolated polysaccharides suggest that the differences may
be due to either the hemicellulose A or the carbohydrates as an
organized whole. Comparison of cell-wall preparations from oven- and
freeze-dried material showed a slower enzymic hydrolysis and in
vivo digestion for the oven-dried preparation from cocksfoot. The
oven-dried ryegrass and clover preparations were hydrolysed a little
slower than the freeze-dried ones by the rumen hemicellulase but no
difference was found with the trichoderma enzyme or in in vivo
digestion.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 24-08-2000
