In vitro degradation of fresh chicory (L.) leaves were studied using rumen bacteria Lachnospira multiparus (pectinolytic) and Fibrobacter succinogenes (cellulolytic). L. multiparus did not release cellulose- and hemicellulose-associated monosaccharides glucose, xylose or mannose, but released the rhamnogalacturonan-associated monosaccharides arabinose, galactose and rhamnose, and rapidly released homogalacturonan-associated monosaccharides uronic acids. F. succinogenes also released uronic acids extensively, but at a slower rate than L multiparus and also released glucose, xylose and mannose. F. succinogenes released these monosaccharides sequentially in the order uronic acid, rhamnose, and then arabinose and galactose together, suggesting that pectic polysaccharides degrade faster than cellulose and hemicelluloses, among pectic polysaccharides homogalacturonan faster than rhamnogalacturonan I. It appears the degradation of pectic polysaccharides by rumen bacteria may contribute significantly to the high digestibility of forage chicory.
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University Palmerston North, New Zea Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University Palmerston North, New Zea Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand