Composition and Distribution of Cell Wall Phenolic Compounds in Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Stem Tissues

Cell wall phenolic compounds were analysed in xylem and bastfibre-rich peels of flax stems by biochemical, histochemicaland ultrastructural approaches. Localization of cell wall phenolicsby the enzyme-gold method using laccase revealed several goldparticle distribution patterns. One of the major types (an evendistribution of single gold particles) was present mainly inxylem, while the other (compact branched groups of ten–40gold particles) was found both in xylem and fibre cells. Thelignin content of the stem parts was estimated by the Klasonprocedure and by the thioglycolic acid assay, and the phenolicproducts recovered after alkaline cupric oxide oxidation ofcell walls were analysed by GC. By combining chemical analysisdata and the frequency of various gold particle types withinthe tissues, different patterns of gold particle distributioncould be ascribed to certain cell wall phenolics; lignin wasstained as evenly distributed single gold particles, while branchedclusters represented hydroxycinnamic acids. The Klason proceduredid not remove all the non-lignin components from flax fibres,known for their highly crystalline cellulose, and considerablyoverestimated the lignin content. The thioglycolic acid assayresults were consistent with GC and microscopic observations.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Linum usitatissimum L., bast fibres, cell wall, lignin, hydroxycinnamic acids