Variability in the composition of tissue-specific galactan from flax fibers

Tissue-specific galactan of sclerenchyma fibers, with cell walls of the gelatinous type, was examined in flax plants (Linum usitatissimum L.) of 23 various genotypes. The content and average degree of polymerization of side chains of galactan were estimated before its deposition into the cell wall. The variability of the analyzed parameters of tissue-specific galactan from flax fibers was high; within the same genotype, the scope of paratypic variability between replicates and years of research was comparable to variability between different genotypes. The average length of side chains in the studied samples ranged from 5 to 41 galactose residues. The average degrees of polymerization of galactan side chains in flax fibers was found to be discrete, which could be explained by block assemblage of the polymer in the Golgi apparatus.