Effect of maturation and storage on asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) cell wall composition

Changes in the cell wall composition of stems of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L. cv. Connovor Collossus) during maturation and during storage in modified atmospheres were investigated. Alcohol‐insoluble residues from portions of stems were analysed for changes in alkali‐soluble phenolics and in the constituent sugars and their glycosidic linkages. Maturation‐related changes down the stem involved increased levels of (l–4)‐linked xylosyl residues from xylans, cellulose and phenolics, which arise from the lignified vascular and sclerenchyma tissues, and a decrease in the levels of (l–5)‐linked arabinosyl residues from pectic arabinans from the parenchy‐matous tissues. Storage under aerobic conditions permitted stem elongation in the apical sections and secondary thickening in the basal sections. This was due to continued tissue maturation. Storage under anaerobic conditions inhibited such changes. In accordance with these effects of storage on stem physiology, maturation‐related changes in cell wall components were enhanced by storage only under aerobic conditions. However, levels of (1–4)‐linked galactosyl residues which remained relatively constant during maturation, decreased substantially (ca 50%) in all stem sections during both aerobic and anaerobic storage.