Forage quality in cultivars of Brachiaria spp.: association of lignin and fibers with anatomical characteristics.

Abstract: Studies to quantify lignin and fibers chemically and anatomically were conducted to evaluate the nutritional quality of forage. This study aimed to assess differences in the amount of lignin and fiber in the leaves of cultivars from three species of Brachiaria. These differences were correlated with structural characteristics of sclerenchyma and vessel elements. Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf. cv. Marandu, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. Prain. cv. Basilisk, and Brachiaria ruziziensis Kennedy (R. Germ & Evrad) cv. Kennedy were chemically and anatomically analyzed using fluorescence techniques and plant microtechnique procedures to evaluate the amount of lignin and fibers in leaves. B. brizantha showed the lowest cell-wall lignin content in fibers from the mesophyll region, and the average gray level was 177.43 compared to 197.63 for B. decumbens and 195.77 for B. ruziziensis. In the midrib, the fiber cell-wall thickness was 3.27 µm in B. brizantha, 57.18% thinner than B. ruziziensis (5.14 µm) and 9.48% thinner than B. decumbens (3.58 µm). B. brizantha cv. Marandu showed the lowest amount of lignin based on cell-wall fiber characteristics.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	MAURI, J., TECHIO, V. H., DAVIDE, L. C., PEREIRA, D. L., SOUZA SOBRINHO, F. de, PEREIRA, F. J.
Other Authors:	Janaína Mauri, UFLA, MG; Vânia Helena Techio, UFLA, MG; Lisete Chamma Davide, UFLA, MG; Daniele Laís Pereira, UFLA, MG; FAUSTO DE SOUZA SOBRINHO, CNPGL; Fabrício José Pereira, UFLA, MG.
Format:	Separatas biblioteca
Language:	English eng
Published:	2016-02-01
Subjects:	Gray levels, Quantitative plant anatomy., Brachiaria Ruziziensis., Brachiaria Brizantha, Brachiaria Decumbens,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1035719
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