title: Chemical characterisation and analysis of the cell wall polysaccharides of duckweed (Lemna minor).
abstract: Duckweed is potentially an ideal biofuel feedstock due to its high proportion of cellulose and starch and low lignin content. However, there is little detailed information on the composition and structure of duckweed cell walls relevant to optimising the conversion of duckweed biomass to ethanol and other biorefinery products. This study reports that, for the variety and batch evaluated, carbohydrates constitute 51.2% (w/w) of dry matter while starch accounts for 19.9%. This study, for the first time, analyses duckweed cell wall composition through a detailed sequential extraction. The cell wall is rich in cellulose and also contains 20.3% pectin comprising galacturonan, xylogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan; 3.5% hemicellulose comprising xyloglucan and xylan, and 0.03% phenolics. In addition, essential fatty acids (0.6%, α-linolenic and linoleic/linoelaidic acid) and p-coumaric acid (0.015%) respectively are the most abundant fatty acids and phenolics in whole duckweed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Moates
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wellner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S R A
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: keith.waldron@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Waldron
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D010368:Pectins / Q000032:analysis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D010368:Pectins; D002482:Cellulose; C003181:polygalacturonic acid
keywords: Cell-wall polysaccharides; Chemical analysis; Duckweed; Fractionation; Lemna minor