Journal of Biology and Nature

Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link. 1827, commonly known as Marram Grass or European Beachgrass, is a perennial Poaceae which lives on the coastal dunes of seas and lakes. It presents an offensive development strategy in its habitat. It is highly fibrous and is very little highlighted. In this work, the principal parietal compounds of its main vegetative organs (leaves, rhizomes and stems) were evaluated. The samples came from tufts pushing in natural conditions in the north-Western coastal region of Algeria. The evaluated compounds are lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses. Identification of the hemicellulosic monomers obtained after acid hydrolysis of the hemicellulosic extracts was carried out by thin layer chromatography. These extracts were coming from delignified parietal residues. In comparison with other graminaceous species of semi-arid areas, results revealed the high proportion of parietal residue in all studied organs, the importance of ligno-cellulosic fraction and the “organ effect” on the content of each parietal compound. The two hemicelluloses types more dominating were xylo-glucan and arabino-xylans according to the organ. These results contribute to explain the vegetative organ roles in the adaptation strategy of this species to the natural conditions. High contents of lignin and cellulose fractions and the qualitative aspect of hemicelluloses should allow the valorization of this species as a natural resource with an undeniable economic interest.