title: Anatomy, nutritional value and cell wall chemical analysis of foliage leaves of Guadua chacoensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), a promising source of forage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study combines morphological and anatomical studies, cell wall chemical composition analysis, as well as assessment of the nutritional value of Guadua chacoensis foliage leaves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Foliage leaves of G. chacoensis are a promising source of forage because: (a) as a native woody bamboo, it is adapted to and helps maintain environmental conditions in America; (b) leaf anatomical studies exhibit discontinuous sclerenchyma, scarcely developed, while pilose indumentum, silica cells, prickles and hooks are also scarce; (c) it has a high protein content, similar to that of Medicago sativa, while other nutritional parameters are similar to those of common forages; and (d) glucuronoarabinoxylan, the major extracted polysaccharide, has one-third of the 4-linked β-d-xylopyranosyl units of the backbone substituted mainly with α-l-arabinofuranose as single stubs or non-reducing end of short chains, but also 5-linked α-l-arabinofuranose units, terminal β-d-xylopyranose and d-galactopyranose units, as well as α-d-glucuronic acid residues and small amounts of its 4-O-methylated derivative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results constitute the first report on this species, and as culms are utilized in constructions and crafts, the remaining leaves, when used as forage, constitute a byproduct that allows an additional income opportunity. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Botánica General, Departamento de Rcursos Naturales y Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecilia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Panizzo
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Química de Biomoléculas, Departamento de Biología Aplicada y Alimentos, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|CIHIDECAR-CONICET, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Paula V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Bovinos de Carne, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Darío
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colombatto
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Química de Biomoléculas, Departamento de Biología Aplicada y Alimentos, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|CIHIDECAR-CONICET, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciancia
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Botánica General, Departamento de Rcursos Naturales y Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vega
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001089:Arabinose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005690:Galactose / Q000032:analysis; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D012418:Ruminants; D014934:Wood; D014990:Xylans / Q000032:analysis; D014994:Xylose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014990:Xylans; C431714:arabinofuranose; C114470:glucuronoarabinoxylan; C431715:xylopyranose; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D014994:Xylose; D001089:Arabinose; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Guadua chacoensis; cell wall polysaccharide; forage; leaf digestibility; nutritional value; woody bamboo