Ultrasound-assisted extraction of hemicellulose and phenolic compounds from bamboo bast fiber powder.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of hemicellulose and phenolic compounds from bamboo bast fibre powder was investigated. The effect of ultrasonic probe depth and power input parameters on the type and amount of products extracted was assessed. The results of input energy and radical formation correlated with the calculated values for the anti-nodal point (λ/4; 16.85 mm, maximum amplitude) of the ultrasonic wave in aqueous medium. Ultrasonic treatment at optimum probe depth of 15 mm improve 2.6-fold the extraction efficiencies of hemicellulose and phenolic lignin compounds from bamboo bast fibre powder. LC-Ms-Tof (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-time of flight) analysis indicated that ultrasound led to the extraction of coniferyl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, vanillic acid, cellobiose, in contrast to boiling water extraction only. At optimized conditions, ultrasound caused the formation of radicals confirmed by the presence of (+)-pinoresinol which resulted from the radical coupling of coniferyl alcohol. Ultrasounds revealed to be an efficient methodology for the extraction of hemicellulosic and phenolic compounds from woody bamboo without the addition of harmful solvents.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in the leaf of ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus) by deep sequencing.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding small endogenous RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides, regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional levels by targeting mRNAs for degradation or by inhibiting protein translation. Thousands of miRNAs have been identified in many species. However, there is no information available concerning miRNAs in ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus), one of the most important non-timber forest products, which has essential ecological roles in forests. To identify miRNAs in D. latiflorus, a small RNA library was constructed from leaf tissues. Using next generation high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis, we obtained 11,513,607 raw sequence reads and identified 84 conserved miRNAs (54 mature miRNAs and 30 star miRNAs) belonging to 17 families, and 81 novel miRNAs (76 mature miRNAs and five star miRNAs) in D. latiflorus. One hundred and sixty-two potential targets were identified for the 81 novel bamboo miRNAs. Several targets for the novel miRNAs are transcription factors that play important roles in plant development. Among the novel miRNAs, 30 were selected and their expression profiles in response to different light conditions were validated by qRT-PCR. This study provides the first large-scale cloning and characterization of miRNAs in D. latiflorus. Eighty-four conserved and 81 novel miRNAs were identified in D. latiflorus. Our results present a broad survey of bamboo miRNAs based on experimental and bioinformatics analysis. Although it will be necessary to validate the functions of miRNAs by further experimental research, these results represent a starting point for future research on D. latiflorus and related species.

[FTIR and XPS spectroscopic studies of photodegradation of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel)].

The photodegradation process of bamboo involves very complex chemical reactions. In the present study, surface deterioration of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) was carried out by a xenon fade meter which can simulate sunlight irradiation, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) techniques were used to characterize the resulting changes in the chemical structure and composition of bamboo surface. XPS results showed that light irradiation resulted in significant increases in oxygen (O) content and O/C ratio. Besides, changes were also identified from the detailed C(ls) spectra, with a remarkable decrease in C1 component (C-C) and simultaneous increases in the components of C2 (C-O), C3 (C = O) and C4 (O-C = O), suggesting that the carbon atoms at bamboo surface were highly oxidized. FTIR results showed that lignin was susceptible to light irradiation and was significant degraded after treatment, as indicated by remarkable decreases in the intensity of lignin associated bands (e. g. 1 604, 1 512 and 1 462 cm(-1)). This was accompanied by the formation of new carbonyl compounds as shown by an obvious increase in the intensity of non-conjugated carbonyl group at 1 735 cm(-1), which further indicated the photo-oxidation of bamboo surface. The polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose) components, however, were less influenced by light irradiation, and their relative content at bamboo surface increased significantly due to lignin degradation.

Gregarious bamboo flowering opens a window of opportunity for regeneration in a temperate forest of Patagonia.

Rare gregarious flowering of understorey bamboo species occurs in temperate and subtropical forests around the world, but the ecological consequences of this phenomenon for forest regeneration are not well understood.Field experiments were conducted in an old-growth temperate forest in Patagonia,Argentina after a massive bamboo flowering event, to examine whether light quality and other changes in microhabitats could affect seed germination and growth of overstorey species. Germination of southern beech (Nothofagus obliqua) was positively correlated with red:far red (R:FR) ratios in a range of microhabitats generated by the death of the understorey bamboo (Chusquea culeou). Experimental modification of understorey R:FR ratios to mimic alternative light environments reversed this germination response in plots with senescent understorey, but not in plots with live bamboo. Laboratory incubations demonstrated a significant interaction between R:FR ratios and thermal amplitude in promoting seed germination. Microhabitats also significantly affected the growth of emerged seedlings. Microenvironmental changes generated by this flowering event appear to have opened a window of opportunity for germination and growth of overstorey species.We demonstrate that natural gradients in light quality associated with this ecological phenomenon are a major component affecting forest regeneration in this ecosystem.