Morphological characteristics of six kinds of mucilaginous seeds and their response to digestion in the rumen of sheep

doi:10.11686/cyxb2016185

Abstract

Abstract: An experiment has been undertaken to compare the morphological characteristics of mucilaginous seeds from six plant species (Plantago lessingii, Seriphidium transiliense, Malcolmia africana, Descuminia sophia, Diptychocarpus strictus and Cardaria draba) and to study their digestion in the rumen of sheep. After determining their morphological characteristics, seeds were put into nylon bags which were then placed in the rumen of sheep through a fistula. The bags were removed at different times and then the mucilage percentage, water absorption rate and sand adherence rate of the seeds were determined. The results were compared with seeds that had not been digested. The results showed that mucilage on the seed surface of all six species was digested by the rumen fluid of sheep. The seeds became dark after digestion. The seed wings of D. strictus consisted primarily of mucilage. As a result, the width of D. strictus seeds changed significantly as digestion time increased (P<0.05). In contrast, the length and thickness of D. strictus seeds were not significantly affected by digestion time (P>0.05). Digestion time had no significant effects on the length, width and thickness of seeds of the other five plant species (P>0.05). The mucilage percentage, water absorption rate and sand adherence rate decreased as digestion time increased. The relationship between mucilage percentage and digestion time is expressed as the equation y=-1.98+48.26e^-^x^/8.40, where x is time in hours (R²=0.95441, P=0<0.01). The relationship between water absorption rate and digestion time is expressed by the equation y=90.04+428.03e^-^x^/4.43 (R²=0.75934, P=0<0.01). The relationship between sand adherence rate and digestion time is expressed as the equation y=-0.71+342.76e^-^x^/5.05 (R²=0.81124, P=0<0.01). Seed germination rates decreased significantly after digestion (P<0.05), with the largest decreases occurring when digestion time was >12 h. Although seed germinability decreased after passage through the rumen, the survival of some seeds indicates that grazing sheep are a possible pathway for seed dispersal.

WANG Shu-Lin, Narkes Wali, LU Wei-Hua, WANG Wei-Qiang, WANG Chuan-Jian. Morphological characteristics of six kinds of mucilaginous seeds and their response to digestion in the rumen of sheep[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2017, 26(4): 89-98.

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