THE POTENTIAL OF PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY FOR DETERMINING THE PROGRESS OF LIGNIFICATION - AN INVESTIGATION OF MATURING ASPARAGUS SCLERENCHYMA TISSUE

Sclerenchyma tissues from semi-mature and mature asparagus spears were analysed by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and by con ventional chemical methods in order to determine the degree of lignifi cation and compare analytical techniques. The pyrolysis data are simil ar to those obtained by a chemical method involving alkaline extractio n at 70 degrees C followed by spectrophotometric determination of phen olic content. The pyrolysis method was more rapid, sensitive and infor mative than the chemical technique and shows considerable potential fa r studying the chemical basis of the textural development of plant foo ds.