A XYLOGLUCAN FROM PERSIMMON FRUIT CELL-WALLS

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) fruit cell walls have been shown to cont ain a high proportion of xyloglucan. This hemicellulosic polysaccharid e appears to play a crucial role in the softening process that accompa nies fruit ripening. In the present work, xyloglucan from persimmon fr uit cell wails was extracted, purified and chemically characterized fr om alkali-extracted hemicelluloses. Monosaccharide analysis of purifie d xyloglucan showed a molar ratio of Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc of 10.0:6.0:3.4:1 .4. Linkage analysis showed: a high proportion of terminal residues, i ndicating a low degree of polymerization of side-chains. (C) 1998 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.