Turnover of white asparagus cell wall polysaccharides during postharvest storage.

The main polysaccharides involved in asparagus cell wall turnover have been identified. Homogalacturonans are lost from both the apical and basal sections of the spear. Galactans are mobilized from the cellulose residue of the apical section and recovered in the KOH-soluble fractions while they are lost from the cellulose residue of the basal section. Xyloglucans are incorporated in the apical region and degraded from the basal one. Cellulose is incorporated in the basal region and lost from the apical one, and acidic xylans are incorporated in high amounts in the basal section of the spear.     

Monosaccharide composition of sweetpotato fiber and cell wall polysaccharides from sweetpotato, cassava, and potato analyzed by the high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection method

The cell wall materials (CWMs) from sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas cv. Kokei 14), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Danshaku) and commercial sweetpotato fiber as well as their polysaccharide fractions were analyzed for sugar composition by the high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) method. The separation of arabinose and rhamnose, and xylose and mannose, by this method has been improved using a CarboPac PA 10 column. Pretreatment of the CWMs and cellulose fractions with 12 M H(2)SO(4) was required for complete hydrolysis to occur. Commercial sweetpotato fiber was found to be mainly composed of glucose (88.4%), but small amounts of other sugars were also detected. Among the root crops, sweetpotato CWM had the highest amount of pectin and galacturonic acid. Fucose was detected only in cassava CWM and its hemicellulose fraction, while galactose was present in the highest amount in potato CWM. Among the polysaccharide fractions, it was only in the hemicellulose fraction where significant differences in the sugar composition, especially in the galactose content, were observed among the root crops.     

Hemicelluloses of ragi (finger millet, Eleusine coracana, Indaf-15): isolation and purification of an alkali-extractable arabinoxylan from native and malted hemicellulose B

Hemicelluloses (A and B) were isolated from an Indo-African hybrid variety of finger millet (ragi, Eleusine coracana) by extracting the starch-free residue with 10% sodium hydroxide under a continuous stream of nitrogen, and changes in their sugar composition during malting for 96 h were studied. Hemicellulose B, obtained in higher yield from both native (N) and malted (M) flours, was found to be completely soluble in water, richer in uronic acid, and more viscogenic than hemicelullose A. Fractional precipitation of hemicellulose B by ammonium sulfate resulted in four precipitable fractions (F-60, F-70, F-80, and F-100) and a nonprecipitable (NP) fraction varying in their yield and arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucose contents. A progressive increase in the pentose-to-hexose ratio (P:H) from 0.42:1.0 in F-60 to 1.94:1.0 in NP was observed in native hemicellulose B fractions; however, in malted hemicellulose B the P:H ratio increased from 0.43:1.0 in F-60 to 1.56:1.0 in F-80 and then decreased to 1.13:1.0 in NP. The major fraction, F-70 (N, 44.5%; M, 38.5%), was separated into eight subfractions on DEAE-cellulose by successive elution with water, ammonium carbonate (AC) (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 M AC), and sodium hydroxide (0.1 and 0.2 M) differing in their yield and neutral sugar composition. The purity of the major glucuronoarabinoxylan fraction (0.1 M AC eluted) was ascertained by Sepharose CL-4B, HPSEC, cellulose acetate, and capillary electrophoresis methods. A significant decrease in the molecular mass of arabinoxylan from 1200 to 1120 kDa upon malting for 96 h is an indication of cell wall degradation by the inducible cell wall degrading enzymes.     

Chemical composition and enzymatic degradability of xylem and nonxylem walls isolated from alfalfa internodes

During plant maturation, degradability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems declines due to accumulation of highly lignified xylary tissue. Xylem and nonxylem tissues dissected from lower alfalfa internodes were analyzed for cell wall constituents and degradability. Cell walls comprised 740 mg g(-1) of xylem and 533 mg g(-1) of nonxylem tissues. Xylem tissues contributed about 60% of the cell wall mass in internodes. Xylem walls contained 28% lignin, 4% pectin, 29% hemicellulose, and 39% cellulose as compared to 15% lignin, 25% pectin, 30% hemicellulose, and 30% cellulose in nonxylem walls. Fungal enzymes hydrolyzed 22 and 73% of the structural carbohydrates in xylem and nonxylem walls, respectively. In both cell wall fractions, the release of xylose was 56-90% lower than that of other sugars, indicating that lignin preferentially restricted xylan degradation in secondary walls and xyloglucan degradation in primary walls. Elucidation of lignin-xylose interactions may reveal strategies for improving fiber degradability of alfalfa.     

Cell wall composition in juvenile and adult leaves of maize (Zea mays L.)

Many leaf characteristics vary with position along the culm in maize (Zea mays L.) due to the existence of vegetative phase change and heteroblasty. The objective of this work was to determine if differences in cell wall composition exist among developmental phases and between Cg1, a developmental mutant, and wild-type maize. In one experiment, the middle third of fully elongated leaf blades from lower and upper regions of the shoot was harvested (midribs removed) and analyzed for several cell wall components. Averaged over five inbreds (De811, Ia5125, Mo17, P39, and Wh8584), lower leaf blades had higher levels of xylose and lower levels of total uronosyls, glucose, arabinose, and galactose (P < 0.05) than did upper leaf blades. With the exception of glucose, upper and lower leaves of Cg1 plants varied in the same manner as their near-isogenic siblings, except cell walls of Cg1 plants were more "juvenile" than cell walls of wild-type siblings at the same leaf stage. These data support the hypothesis that Cg1 delays but does not eliminate the transition from juvenile-vegetative to adult-vegetative phase. In a second experiment, juvenile (leaves 3 and 5), transition (leaf 7), and adult (leaves 9 and 11) leaves from inbreds B73 and De811 were harvested and analyzed as in the first experiment. As leaf number rose, total cell wall content of sample dry matter, total neutral sugars, glucose, xylose, and ester-linked monomers of p-coumaric acid and total ferulates including ferulate dimers increased linearly while total uronosyls acids, arabinose, and galactose declined linearly (P < 0.05). Glucose and xylose are major cell wall components released from cellulose and xylans after acid hydrolysis. Pectin, a minor component of grass cell walls, is composed of galacturonosyls, arabinose, and galactose. Secondary cell wall deposition increased between leaves 3 and 11 in a heteroblastic series, due to either increased cell wall content concomitant with decreased cell lumen size, changes in proportion of cell types (i.e., sclerenchyma), or a combination of these factors.     

Changes in Cell Wall Polysaccharides and Hydroxycinnamates in Wheat Roots by Aluminum Stress at Higher Calcium Supply

The present study was conducted to investigate the cell-wall polysaccharides and hydroxycinnamates in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) under aluminum (Al) stress at a higher level of calcium (Ca) supply. Seedlings were grown in nutrient solution for 7 d and then subjected to treatment solutions containing Al (0 or 100 μM) and Ca (0 or 2500 μM) in a 500 μM CaCl ₂ solution at pH 4.5 for 8 d. Calcium treatment (2500 μM) improved root growth significantly under Al-stress conditions. The contents of pectin and hemicellulose in roots were increased under Al-stress conditions, and this increase was conspicuous in the hemicellulosic fraction. The increase in the hemicellulose was attributed to increases in arabinose, xylose, and glucose in neutral sugars. High Ca treatment decreased these contents in Al-stressed cell walls. Aluminum treatment increased the content of ferulic acid, whereas Ca treatment with Al reduced the content. These results suggest that Al may modify the mechanical properties of cell-wall polysaccharides by enhancing the synthesis of arabinoxylan, β-glucan, and ferulic acid in the cell wall. High Ca treatment may maintain the normal synthesis of these materials even under Al-stress conditions.     

Effect of germination on the carbohydrate composition of the dietary fiber of peas (Pisum sativum L.)

The effect of different conditions of pea germination on dietary fiber (DF) composition was studied. Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) were subjected to acid hydrolysis, and the resultant neutral sugars, uronic acids, and Klason lignin were quantified. Germinated peas exhibited significantly higher contents of total dietary fiber (TDF) than the raw sample, due to the increases of both DF fractions. Under darkness conditions, germination exhibited the highest contents of IDF and SDF. Decreasing IDF/SDF ratios showed that the carbohydrate changes did not take place to the same extent during germination, the SDF fraction being the most affected. The detailed chemical composition of fiber fractions reveals increases of cellulose in the IDF of germinated samples, whereas SDF exhibits a decrease of pectic polysaccharides and also increases of polysaccharides rich in glucose and mannose. The DF results were corroborated by a comparative examination of the cell wall carbohydrate composition.     

Biochemical characteristics of solid fractions from animal slurry separation and their effects on C and N mineralisation in soil

Solid fractions from separated animal slurry can be used as organic fertilisers on agricultural land. Solid fractions contain variable amounts of inorganic and organic N, so it is important to synchronise their application in the field with crop demand to ensure N availability in the growing season. This study quantified C and N mineralisation for a wide range of solid fractions from slurry separation applied to soil and examined potential correlations between chemical and biochemical characteristics of solid fractions and their C and N turnover. The solid fractions were mixed with soil and incubated at 14°C for 120 days, during which CO₂ evolution and inorganic N content of the solid fractions were determined. A two-parameter exponential function fitted to the individual solid fraction C mineralisation patterns explained 98% of the data variation, while a three-parameter Monod-type equation fitted to the net N mineralisation patterns explained 89% of the variation. Between 5% and 45% of initially added C was mineralised within the incubation period, with the largest proportion tending to be mineralised from simple mechanically separated solid fractions (MEC). Nitrogen was initially immobilised by the majority of solid fractions. Solid fractions from decanter centrifuged, anaerobically digested slurry (DEC) and chemically pre-treated and separated slurry (KEM) began to re-mineralise N after 20?C40 days, whereas N was continuously immobilised from MEC solid fractions. The carbon mineralisation rate constant was correlated with the C content in the neutral detergent soluble (NDS), hemicellulose and cellulose fractions and the N content in NDS. Net nitrogen mineralisation was correlated with the C/Norg ratio of solid fractions, the N content of NDS and the C content of hemicellulose and cellulose.     

Temporal sequence of cell wall disassembly events in developing fruits. 1. Analysis of raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Raspberry fruits were harvested at five developmental stages, from green to red ripe, and the changes in cell wall composition, pectin and hemicellulose solubilization, and depolymerization were analyzed. Fruit softening at intermediate stages of ripening was associated with increased pectin solubilization, which occurred without depolymerization. Arabinose was found to be the most abundant noncellulosic neutral sugar in the cell wall and showed dramatic solubilization late in ripening. No changes in pectin molecular size were observed even at the 100% red stage. Subsequently, as fruit became fully ripe a dramatic depolymerization occurred. In contrast, the hemicellulosic fractions showed no significant changes in content or polymer size during ripening. The paper discusses the sequence of events leading to cell wall disassembly in raspberry fruit.     

乙二醇-氯化铁预处理对棉秆酶水解效率的影响

为提高棉秆的纤维素酶水解效率,该研究以乙二醇为预处理溶剂,氯化铁为催化剂对棉秆进行预处理,实现了棉秆木质素和半纤维素的有效去除,提高了酶水解效率。以木质素和半纤维素的去除率为指标,运用正交试验方法优化乙二醇-氯化铁预处理条件。结果表明,棉秆在90%乙二醇水溶液,0.1 mol/L氯化铁,固液比1∶15,160 ℃条件下处理20 min,木质素和半纤维素去除率分别为85.74%和88.86%。相较原料,预处理后棉秆酶解率提高了7.6倍,葡萄糖产率达到100%（基质浓度5%,酶载量8.3 FPU/g,水解72 h条件下）。通过结构表征发现乙二醇-氯化铁预处理使棉秆的比表面积增大,致密结构被破坏,有效提高了棉秆的纤维素酶可及性。     

Bestimmung cellulosisch und nichtcellulosisch gebundener Neutralzucker in Bodenhydrolysaten mit Hilfe von Hochleistungsdünnschichtchromatographie

Determination of cellulosic and noncellulosic neutral sugars occurring in soil hydrolysates by means of high-performance thin-layer chromatography Analytical methods for soil samples are described, which allow the differentiation between monosaccharides bound in cellulosic and noncellulosic polysaccharides of the plant cell wall. The four step procedure includes hydrolysis of total polysaccharides (72 % H₂SO₄, 2N H₂SO₄), hydrolysis of the noncellulosic fraction (2N trifluoroacetic acid), separation of the monomers by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and scanning of the plates for quantification. The amount of cellulose can be calculated by the difference of total glucose and glucose hydrolyzed by trifluoroacetic acid. Hydrolysis of soil samples by trifluoroacetic acid is a simple method for the determination of noncellulosic cell wall polysaccharides. Losses of sugars during the whole analytical procedure (hydrolysis, separation by HPTLC and quantification) are below 10 % for all sugars studied (galactose, glucose, mannose, arabinose, xylose). Standard deviations do not overstep this value, too. By HPTLC a large number of samples are chromatographed together; therefore, the total analysis time per sample is very short. As example the depth functions of hydrolyzed sugars in a Lithic Borofolist are discussed.     

过量铜在两个柑橘品种幼苗中的分布特征及根细胞壁响应机制

  【目的】  探究过量铜在两个柑橘品种幼苗组织水平和亚细胞水平上的分布特征以及根细胞壁对铜毒害的响应机制,以揭示柑橘耐铜毒害机理,为优化不同柑橘品种铜养分管理提供科学依据。  【方法】  以砂培的雪柑(Citrus sinensis)和沙田柚(Citrus grandis)实生苗为试验材料,进行连续18周不同浓度铜处理,即Cu 0.5 μmol/L (对照)和300 μmol/L (过量铜)。处理结束后,分析铜在柑橘幼苗不同组织水平(主根、侧根、茎和叶)、侧根亚细胞水平(细胞壁、细胞器和可溶性部分)以及侧根细胞壁多糖组分(果胶、半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素)上的分布特征;采用透射电镜(TEM)以及傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR),分析柑橘侧根细胞壁微结构变化(厚度、化学基团构成等)。  【结果】  1) 组织水平上,不论是对照还是过量铜处理的柑橘苗,侧根是铜分布的主要部位,且过量铜处理的沙田柚侧根铜含量显著高于雪柑。对照组的雪柑和沙田柚侧根铜分布率分别为57.32%和51.31%;过量铜处理后,雪柑和沙田柚侧根铜分布率分别提高到90.87%和91.99%。相反,过量铜处理显著降低了两个柑橘品种幼苗茎和叶的铜分布率。2) 在侧根亚细胞水平上,细胞器是铜在对照组柑橘苗的主要分布部位。对照组的雪柑和沙田柚侧根细胞器铜分布率分别为58.61%和39.26%;过量铜处理后,雪柑和沙田柚侧根细胞器的铜分布率分别降低到14.34%和11.49%。与对照相比,过量铜处理显著提高了两个柑橘品种幼苗侧根细胞壁和可溶性部分的铜含量,且过量铜处理的沙田柚侧根细胞壁铜含量显著高于雪柑。3)与对照相比,过量铜处理显著提高了两个柑橘品种幼苗侧根细胞壁各多糖组分的铜含量。其中,对照组的雪柑和沙田柚侧根细胞壁果胶铜分布率分别为44.69%和37.15%;过量铜处理后,雪柑和沙田柚侧根细胞壁果胶铜分布率分别提高到98.45%和98.48%。但过量铜处理的两个柑橘品种幼苗侧根细胞壁上的半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素中的铜分布率显著降低。4)分级提取细胞壁并结合TEM分析表明,过量铜处理显著提高两个柑橘品种幼苗侧根细胞壁的提取率以及细胞壁厚度,且过量铜处理的沙田柚细胞壁提取率与细胞壁厚度均显著高于雪柑。5) FTIR分析表明,沙田柚侧根细胞壁果胶、纤维素和蛋白质等成分上羟基、羧基和氨基官能团参与了铜的吸附和固定。  【结论】  亚细胞水平上,300 μmol/L过量铜处理的柑橘苗侧根可溶性部分和细胞壁是铜的主要分布部位,细胞壁果胶对铜的固定降低了铜向地上部的运输。提高细胞壁含量、增厚细胞壁以及促进细胞壁对铜的吸附可能是沙田柚幼苗耐铜性强于雪柑的主要原因。     

Biodegradation of viticulture wastes by Pleurotus: a source of microbial and human food and its potential use in animal feeding

The bioconversion of vineyard pruning and grape pomace by Pleurotus spp. using a solid state fermentation (SSF) was evaluated. Fruiting body production and chemical changes in the substrates after harvesting were measured. Biological efficiency and bioconversion ranged from 37.2 to 78.7% and from 16.7 to 38.8%, respectively. The best substrates for mycelial growth and mushroom yield were the mixtures with higher vineyard pruning content. Inclusion of pruning content had higher phenolic components and total sugars, better C/N ratio, and lower crude fat and total nitrogen than pomace. On the contrary, mycelium grew more slowly and scarcely in all treatments with 100% grape pomace. Moisture, protein, fat, and lignin contents were generally higher in mixtures with higher pomace proportion, whereas neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and cellulose contents were higher with pruning content. Pleurotus strains may act depending on the availability of fiber fractions of substrate, and dynamic changes in digestion might occur as these fractions change during fungal growth. The recycling of viticulture residues through SSF by Pleurotus has great potential to produce human food and yields an available high-fiber feed for limited use in ruminants.     

Olive fruit cell wall: degradation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides during ripening

Cellulose and hemicelluloses obtained from the cell walls of partially depectinated olives have been studied at three stages of ripening (green, cherry, and black). Hemicelluloses were fractionated into two groups, the amounts of which diminished during ripening: those soluble in 4% KOH diminished between the cherry and black stages, whereas those soluble in 24% KOH did so between the green and cherry stages. Arabinoxylans, xyloglucans, and homo- and/or rhamnogalacturonans to a lesser extent were present in these fractions. After ion exchange and size exclusion chromatographies, decreases in the molecular weights of hemicelluloses, mainly in the neutral fractions, were observed. The amount of cellulose also decreased, but at the second stage of the ripening process. Approximately 2 mg/fruit of glucose was lost from cellulose, and the amount of uronic acids increased (0.23 mg/fruit).     

甜菜细胞壁界面特征显著影响纤维素酶解效率

生物质不同器官、组织理化性质各异,这种异质性对纤维素酶解效率的影响有待深入研究。该研究以甜菜为研究对象,系统分析不同器官理化性质与酶解效率间的关系,探究细胞壁与纤维素酶的吸附特点及在酶解过程中的形态变化。结果表明,甜菜根、茎、叶酶解还原糖得率不同,根和茎的还原糖得率相近且高于叶,分别为14.64%和14.26%,叶还原糖得率较低为10.15%;酶解还原糖得率与木质素（P<0.01）、半纤维素（P<0.01）呈极显著负相关,而与比表面积（P<0.01）呈极显著正相关;甜菜根、茎、叶的薄壁组织更容易与纤维素酶结合,并且更易被降解。甜菜细胞壁界面理化特征是影响酶与底物有效吸附,进而影响纤维素酶解效率的关键因素。研究结果可为甜菜农业废弃物的利用提供参考。     

Soybean (Glycine max) cell wall composition and availability to feed enzymes

Defatted untoasted soybean cotyledons and hulls were fractionated as water solutes (WSc and WSh) and water unextractable (WUc and WUh). Further fractionation of WUc through deproteinization yielded the isolation of a water unextractable solid (WUS) fraction that was mainly composed (molar percent) of galactose (28.1%), glucose (27.8%), arabinose (13.3%), and uronic acids (17.6%), which accounted for 76% of the water insoluble polysaccharides in soybean cotyledons (WUc). The cell wall (WUS) was sequentially fractionated with chelating agents (chelating agent soluble solids, ChSS) and a gradient of agents (dilute alkali, DASS; 1 M alkali, 1MASS; and 4M alkali, 4MASS), which gave a final cellulosic residue. The ChSS and DASS extracts were characterized as pectin-rich fractions, whereas 1MASS and 4MASS were hemicellulose- and cellulose-rich fractions. Incubation in vitro of the WUc fraction with pectinase, cellulase, and xylanase resulted in the release of low amounts (not more than 5% bound basis) of monosaccharides, mostly uronic acids, xylose, and arabinose. Protein extraction hardly increased this release after enzymatic incubation (<7%). However, progressive fractionation of the cell wall matrix markedly increased the release of monosaccharides from pectin- (ChSS and DASS) and hemicellulose-rich fractions (1MASS and 4MASS). Significant degradation of cellulose (up to 20%) was achieved only after complete protein, pectin, and hemicellulose extraction.     

CrCl3预处理和表面活性剂对杨木酶解效率的影响

为了探究预处理和表面活性剂对纤维素酶水解效率的影响,该研究以杨木为研究对象,探究了温度对CrCl₃预处理的影响,同时从表面活性剂种类、用量和酶添加量3个方面分析表面活性剂对CrCl₃预处理后样品酶解的促进作用。结果表明：CrCl₃预处理对杨木组分分离有良好的促进效果,经160 ℃预处理后葡萄糖得率达到65.9%。通过结构表征发现预处理后杨木结构完整度降低,提高了纤维素的可接触面,进而提高了酶解效率。在酶解段加入木质素磺酸钙可显著缩短酶解时间,提高酶解效率,同时有效降低纤维素酶用量,最终酶解72h后葡萄糖得率达85.5%,当酶用量为该研究为提升木质纤维原料预处理效率和降低酶解成本提供了一定的理论支持。     

龙须菜细胞壁多糖对硼的吸附性能研究

为研究龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)细胞壁多糖对硼的吸附作用机制及官能团之间的交互作用,本试验分别采用电感耦合等离子发射光谱(ICP-OES)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)技术对其细胞壁多糖组分在吸附试验中进行硼的测定和表征。结果表明,细胞壁去琼胶后,硼吸附量减少50.13%,半纤维素去除后,硼吸附量减少21.20%,故可得纤维素吸附量占细胞壁总硼吸附量的28.67%。同时,通过细胞壁不同组分脱硼及硼胁迫后的红外光谱表征结果可知,龙须菜细胞壁及多糖在吸附硼的过程中,羟基、羧基、多糖碳链C-C为硼离子的主要结合位点,其中,琼胶、半纤维素中起主要作用的官能团为羟基、羧基,纤维素中起主要作用的官能团为多糖碳链C-C。本研究结果为进一步探究龙须菜多糖组分与硼的内在结合机制提供了基础依据。     

Organische Stoffgruppen im Mullhumus nicht kultivierter Böden mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Stickstoff-Fraktionen

Fractions of organic components in mull humus of non cultivated soil profiles with special reference to various nitrogen fractions Different fractions of organic components were studied by horizons in four mull humus profiles, differing in genesis and ecology. Two of the soils were located in unmanaged grassland (Rendoll and Entisol) and two under deciduous hardwood (Eutrochept and Fluvaquent). In the grassland soils characteristic F-mull developed, but in the woodland soils L – and wet mull occurred respectively. Water soluble-, hemicellulose-, cellulose sugars and lignin derivates decreased with increasing soil depth. In contrast, amino sugars, proteins, lipids and unknown nitrogen containing fractions increased. Essential changes of those fractions happened in the organic-mineral horizons. Some clear differences among the profiles were recorded, depending on litter type, the genesis and soil water regime. At least 41% (Rendoll) to at most 50% (Fluvaquent) of the organic substance were extractable and identified. Amounts and distribution of the different organic fractions in the litter layers depend on the chemical composition of the litter. Hydrolysable unknown N, non hydrolysable and pseudo amide N increased from the litter to the mineral horizons in the Eutrochrept from 34 to 44 and in the Rendoll from 27 to 49% of total N, but in the Entisol these fractions are decreasing from 52 to 43% of total N. No change was observed in the Fluvaquent. In contrast, amino acid-, amino sugar – and true amide N decreased in most cases from the litter to the mineral horizons. Inorganic bound N, nearly exclusive fixed NH₄⁺-N, reached not more than 5% of total nitrogen.     

Characterization and distribution of phenolics in carrot cell walls

Carrot cell walls have been shown to contain significant quantities of esterified p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is presumed to be esterified to cell wall polymers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and related phenolics among carrot cell wall polysaccharides. Cell wall material was prepared from fresh carrot root tissues and extracted sequentially with water, imidazole, cyclohexane- trans-1,2-diamine- N, N, N', N'-tetraacetate, Na 2CO 3, and KOH (0.5, 1, and 4 M) to leave a cellulose-rich residue. The fractions were analyzed for their carbohydrate and phenolic acid components. Selected soluble fractions were subfractionated further by graded precipitation in ethanol. The majority of the polymer fractions comprised pectic polysaccharides, with varying quantities of neutral sugars (arabinose and galactose). Hemicellulosic polymers were generally found only in the strong alkali extracts (4 M KOH). p-OH-benzoic acid was the predominant phenolic ester and was associated with most fractions analyzed; p-OH-benzaldehyde was also detected in the fractions at much lower levels. Principal components analysis of the chemical data indicated that the p-OH-benzoic acid was associated predominantly with the branched pectic polysaccharides, in contrast to the p-OH-benzaldehyde. The possible roles and functional properties of these phenolics are discussed.