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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334911
Title: Total leaf crude protein, amino acid composition and elemental content in the USDA-ARS bamboo germplasm collections

Author
item Wang, Ming
item Harrison, Melanie
item Tonnis, Brandon
item Pinnow, David
item DAVIS, JERRY - University Of Georgia
item Irish, Brian

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2017
Publication Date: 3/15/2017
Citation: Wang, M.L., Harrison, M.L., Tonnis, B.D., Pinnow, D.L., Davis, J., Irish, B.M. 2017. Total leaf crude protein, amino acid composition and elemental content in the USDA-ARS bamboo germplasm collections. Plant Genetic Resources. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262117000053.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262117000053

Interpretive Summary: Bamboo shoots and leaves are valuable food sources for both humans and livestock. The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collections hold 93 bamboo species in 20 genera. Total leaf protein, amino acid composition and elemental content for these important genetic resources had never been quantified or evaluated. Bamboo accessions for the 93 species were selected and systematically characterized for these leaf nutrition traits using samples collected during two seasons, from three locations with three replicates. Leaf protein content among bamboo species ranged from 8.12 to 16.33% with an average of 12.84%. This average was higher than the 9.0% observed for switchgrass leaves, but considerably lower than 32.48% in cassava leaves. For eighteen quantified amino acids, there was more than a two-fold variation in the samples evaluated. For twelve quantified mineral elements, there was significant variability from the low end (4.2 fold, 2.27-9.52 mg/g calcium; 4.39 fold, 56.17-246.43 µg/g sodium) to the high end (61.52 fold, 17.67-1087.0 µg/g manganese; 40.8 fold, 42.0-1713.5 µg/g aluminum). Due to their variability in leaf nutritive value, bamboo species should be carefully chosen when they are used as a feedstock. The results obtained from this study will be useful for the bamboo industry, producers, and consumers.

Technical Abstract: Bamboo shoots and leaves are valuable food sources for both humans and livestock. The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collections hold 93 bamboo species in 20 genera. Total leaf protein, amino acid composition and elemental content for these important genetic resources had never been quantified or evaluated. Bamboo accessions for the 93 species were selected and systematically characterized for these leaf nutrition traits using samples collected during two seasons, from three locations with three replicates. Leaf protein content among bamboo species ranged from 8.12 to 16.33% with an average of 12.84%. This average was higher than the 9.0% observed for switchgrass leaves, but considerably lower than 32.48% in cassava leaves. For eighteen quantified amino acids, there was more than a two-fold variation in the samples evaluated. For twelve quantified mineral elements, there was significant variability from the low end (4.2 fold, 2.27-9.52 mg/g calcium; 4.39 fold, 56.17-246.43 µg/g sodium) to the high end (61.52 fold, 17.67-1087.0 µg/g manganese; 40.8 fold, 42.0-1713.5 µg/g aluminum). Due to their variability in leaf nutritive value, bamboo species should be carefully chosen when they are used as a feedstock. The results obtained from this study will be useful for the bamboo industry, producers, and consumers.