Polysaccharides of tropical pasture herbage. III. The distribution of the major polysaccharide components of Townsville lucerne (Stylosanthes humilis) during growth

Abstract

Stylosanthes humilis, the predominant pasture legume in North Queensland, has been collected at three different stages of growth, viz. flowering, seeded, and senescence. The plants have been divided into stem, leaf, root, seed, and pod and each fraction has been analysed for the following types of polysaccharide components: water- solubles, pectic substances, hemicelluloses, and cellulose. The absolute monosaccharide composition of each of these fractions has been determined by hydrolysis and gas chromatography. Most of the polysaccharide components are similar in nature to those previously found in temperate pasture legumes (e.g. Medicago sativa), but the seeds are unusual among legumes in containing no galactomannan and there is evidence of the presence of a glucomannan in all parts of the plant.