Fig. 2

Cellulose, lignin, and xylan content of maize internodes increase with developmental age. a Cellulose content in maize stems at 49 days after planting increases towards the base of the stem with the most rapid change between Internodes 6 and 5. Values are mean ± S.D. of three biological replicates. b Total lignin abundance estimated by pyrolysis molecular beam mass spectroscopy increases towards the base of the stem, peaking in Internode 4. Values are mean ± S.D. of three biological replicates, except for 7, which is the mean ± variance of two biological replicates. c Distribution of non-cellulosic monosaccharides yielded by hydrolysis of cell walls isolated from rind tissues in TFA. Values are mean ± S.D. of three biological replicates