Structural Variation of Lignin and Lignin-Carbohydrate Complex in Eucalyptus grandis x E-urophylla during Its Growth Process

Milled wood lignin (MWL), lignin carbohydrate complex-rich fraction (LCC-AcOH), celluloytic enzyme lignin (CEL), and enzymatic hydrolysis residue (EHR) were sequentially isolated from Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla under mild conditions, and the variations of lignin carbohydrate complex (LCC) linkages and lignin structures during the eucalyptus growth were investigated. The 2D HSQC NMR analysis showed that beta-O-4' and beta-beta' were the main linkages in lignin, while other substructures were present in much lower amounts. The amounts of beta-O-beta' in the MWL and LCC-AcOH fractions showed an increased tendency and those in the CEL and EHR fractions had no obvious variation with the eucalyptus growth. The S/G ratios of the MWL, LCC-AcOH, and CEL fractions increased first and then decreased, whereas those of the EHR fractions decreased with the tree age. The amount of phenyl glycoside (PhGlc) in the LCC-AcOH fractions varied consistent with the S/G ratio. The variation of the amount of benzyl ether (BE) in the MWL fractions was parallel to the S/G ratio, while that in the CEL fractions was contrary to it. These findings will provide some evidence for the structural variation of lignin and LCC in Eucalypt during its growth process.