Characterization of hemicelluloses in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) culm during xylogenesis

Hemicelluloses are effective renewable biopolymers that can be used in many different industrial processes and preparations. In plants, the content of hemicellulose might change with different developmental stages and/or tissues. Thus, in here chemical and structural differences in hemicellulose isolated from the apical, middle and basal segments of sugarcane stem were characterized using chemical techniques. Further, difference in expression levels of genes related to synthesis of hemicelluloses from these three segments were studied by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR etc. The sugarcane hemicellulose backbone was xylose residues connected via β-1,4 glycosidic linkages which was further substituted with arabinose, acetyl and glucuronic acid side chains. Hemicellulose content was higher in the middle and basal segments with less backbone substitutions compared to apical segments. In terms of gene expression, hemicellulose synthesis and modification genes were intensely expressed in middle and basal segments. Taken together, our research describes differences in hemicellulose content and substitutions in sugarcane during xylogenesis, which will increase our knowledge for finding more refined use of sugarcane bagasse.