Diazonium Compounds Localize Grass Cell Wall Phenolics: Relation to Wall Digestibility

Phenolic compounds in plant cell wall limit forage digestibility. The objective of this work was to compare three diazonium salts with more widely used lignin stains for their ability to stain phenolic compounds in grass cell walls and to relate the results to cell wall digestibility. Acid phloroglucinol, chlorine-sulfite, azure B, diazotized sulfanilic acid, diazotized p-nitroaniline, or p-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate was reacted with a series of low molecular weight phenolic compounds (acids, aldehydes, and esters), lignin extracts, and intact plant cell walls in leaf blades and stems of Coastal' bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]