Abstract

Phenolic compounds were studied in the culms of five bamboo species collected in China: Yushania chungii, Fargesia robusta, Fargesia denudata, Fargesia rufa and Fargesia scabrida. All the species are eaten by giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The culms contained phenolic acids and flavonoids in small concentrations, except for F. robusta, which did not contain flavonoids in detectable amounts. The species differed from each other in their phenolic composition. For example, F. rufa with the highest number of compounds clearly differed from other species. There were also differences among sampling sites, which reflect the differences among genotypes. Furthermore, there were clear ontogenetic differences in the culms: some compounds were present in mature culms but not in young (1-2 year old) culms, while the concentrations of other compounds decreased with increasing age. Over all, the composition and concentrations of soluble phenolic compounds in the bamboo culms were affected by species, age and site. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Ailuropoda melanoleuca; Yushania chungii; Fargesia robusta; Fargesia denudata; Fargesia rufa; Fargesia scabrida; Bamboo (Poaceae: Bambusoideae); Phenolic compounds

Published in

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
2008, volume: 36, number: 10, pages: 758-765

Authors' information