STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF POLYSACCHARIDES OF PRIMARY WALLS FROM XYLEM DIFFERENTIATING ZONES OF CRYPTOMERIA-JAPONICA D-DON

Cell wall material was isolated from the xylem differentiating zone of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). The polysaccharides were extracted sequentially with CDTA(trans-l,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid), Na2CO3 and KOH. Glycosyl and glycosyl linkage composition analyses of the extracts showed that cell walls of the xylem differentiating zone consisted of six different polysaccharides. These were rhamnogalacturonan, homogalacturonan, xyloglucan, xylan, glucomannan, and cellulose. Over 30% of the cell wall polysaccharides were pectic polysaccharides. Xyloglucan was a main hemicellulosic polymer. The cell-wall polysaccharides of the xylem differentiating zone of sugi was very similar to those of previously reported suspension - cultured Douglas fir {Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco} cells and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells. It would be concluded that there is little difference in primary wall polysaccharides between softwood and hardwood.