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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Lignin characteristics of Abies beshanzuensis, a critically endangered tree species

Journal of Wood Science volume 54, pages 81–86 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

As one of the major components of plant cell walls, lignin structural features are closely related with taxonomical and genetic classification of plants. In this study, the structural features of lignin of Abies beshanzuensis were investigated. Abies firma, which is genetically the closest species to A. beshanzuensis, Cryptomeria japonica, a typical gymnosperm tree species, and Phyllostachys pubescens (bamboo), which includes p-hydroxyphenyl nuclei in arylglycerol-β-aryl intermonomer linkages, were also analyzed to compare lignin features with those of A. beshanzuensis. The lignin content of A. beshanzuensis (39.2%) was significantly higher than that of A. firma (33.7%). The high value may be due to the adaptation of A. beshanzuensis to environmental stresses in surviving the Riss glacial period. Alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation, ozonation, acidolysis, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed that the structural features of lignin of A. beshanzuensis were similar to those of A. firma, which is genetically the closest species of A. beshanzuensis. The results of this study suggest that A. firma would be a suitable mother tree species for grafting A. beshanzuensis on the basis of their lignin characteristics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Forestry Academy, Hangzhou, 310023, China

    Shunliu Shao

  2. School of Engineering, Zhejiang Forestry University, Linan, Zhejiang, 311300, China

    Zhenfu Jin

  3. New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, Kingsclear Forestry Nursery, Brunswick, E3E 1G3, NB, Canada

    Yu Hui Weng

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  1. Shunliu Shao
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  2. Zhenfu Jin
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  3. Yu Hui Weng
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Correspondence to Zhenfu Jin.

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Shao, S., Jin, Z. & Weng, Y.H. Lignin characteristics of Abies beshanzuensis, a critically endangered tree species. J Wood Sci 54, 81–86 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0918-4

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