Variation in lignin, cell wall-bound p-coumaric, and ferulic acid in the nodes and internodes of cereals and their impact on lodging

Understanding the contribution of stem cell wall components to lodging is important in developing breeding programs aimed at reducing lodging in cereal crops. This study is one of the first to investigate the correlation between the amounts of cell wall-bound ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and lignin in the nodes and internodes of cereals (oat, wheat, and barley) and their lodging susceptibility during grain fill. All samples, except two-row barley, were susceptible to lodging and expressed a significantly lower stalk strength. Lignin and phenolic contents between nodes and internodes of all samples were significantly different, with internodes having higher amounts (5.5-7.0 and 10.9-16.2 μg/g p-coumaric acid, and 2.5-3.2 and 3.9-7.1 μg/g ferulic acid in nodes and internodes, respectively). The acid-soluble lignin content was different between nodes and internodes but not between crops. This data set did not correlate with lodging classification, possibly due to sample size and type.