CHEMICAL CHANGES WITH MATURATION OF THE BAMBOO SPECIES <em>PHYLLOSTACHYS</em> <em>PUBESCENS</em>

Abstract

LI, X. B., SHUPE, T. F., PETER, G. F., HSE, C. Y. & EBERHARDT, T. L. 2007. Chemical changes with
maturation of the bamboo species Phyllostachys pubescens. Bamboo chemical properties were measured
at three different heights from one-, three- and five-year-old plants and at three different radial positions
from the three-year-old culms of Phyllostachys pubescens grown in south-eastern USA. Small but significant
increases in holocellulose and α-cellulose contents were detected from the base to the top of the culm at all
three ages. In contrast, no significant differences in Klason lignin and ash were detected. The increases in
carbohydrate content with age correlated with increases in specific gravity. Alcohol-toluene extractive content
increased from the base to the top of the stem in the three-year-old and five-year-old bamboo and showed
a continuous increase with age. The epidermis had the highest extractive and ash contents and the lowest
holocellulose and α-cellulose contents. The outer layer of the stem had the highest holocellulose, α-cellulose
and Klason lignin contents and the lowest extractive and ash contents. The chemical content and specific
gravity of bamboo stabilizes at about three years of age, which is an appropriate time for harvesting.