Abstract
ObjectiveLignin plays a relevant role in the inhibition of cell wall (CW) structural carbohydrate degradation. Thus, obtaining accurate estimates of the lignin content in tropical plants is important in order to properly characterize the mechanism of lignin action on CW degradation. Comparing conflicting results between the different methods available for commercial use will bring insight on the subject. This way, providing data to better understand the relationship between lignin concentration and implications with tropical forage degradation.MethodsFive grass species, Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandú, Brachiaria brizantha cv Xaraés (MG-5), Panicum maximum cv Mombaça, Pennisetum purpureum cv Cameroon, and Pennisetum purpureum cv Napier, were harvested at five maturity stages. Acid detergent lignin (ADL), Klason lignin (KL), acetyl bromide lignin (ABL), and permanganate lignin (PerL) were measured on all species. Lignin concentration was correlated with in vitro degradability.ResultsHighly significant effects for maturity, lignin method and their interaction on lignin content were observed. The ADL, KL and ABL methods had similar negative correlations with degradability. The PerL method failed to reliably estimate the degradability of tropical grasses, possibly due to interference of other substances potentially soluble in the KMnO4 solution.ConclusionADL and KL methods use strong acid (H2SO4) and require determination of ash and N content in the lignin residues, therefore, increasing time and cost of analysis. The ABL method has no need for such corrections and is a fast and a convenient method for determination of total lignin content in plants, thus, it may be a good option for routine laboratory analysis.
Highlights
Ruminants are highly dependent on forages as a source of energy and a large portion of this energy comes from the plant cell wall (CW) [1]
Lignin values yielded by permanganate lignin (PerL) method ranged from 65.5 g/kg dry matter (DM) to 159.0 g/kg DM for Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandú and Pennisetum purpureum cv Cameroon, respectively
Mean In vitro neutral deter gent fiber degradability (IVNDFd) values were numerically lower than in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMd) values, ranging from 360.7 g/kg Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) to 430.7 g/kg NDF for Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandú and Pennisetum purpureum cv Napier, respectively
Summary
Lignin plays a relevant role in the inhibition of cell wall (CW) structural carbo hydrate degradation. Comparing conflicting results between the different methods available for commercial use will bring insight on the subject. This way, providing data to better understand the rela tionship between lignin concentration and implications with tropical forage degradation. Results: Highly significant effects for maturity, lignin method and their interaction on lignin content were observed. The ADL, KL and ABL methods had similar negative correlations with degradability. The PerL method failed to reliably estimate the degradability of tropical grasses, possibly due to interference of other substances potentially soluble in the KMnO4 solution. Conclusion: ADL and KL methods use strong acid (H2SO4) and require determination of ash and N content in the lignin residues, increasing time and cost of analysis. The ABL method has no need for such corrections and is a fast and a convenient method for deter mination of total lignin content in plants, it may be a good option for routine laboratory analysis
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