Effect of Copper Deficiency on Phenolic and Other Constituents of Wheat Cell Walls

Summary Before decreasing yield significantly, copper deficiency affected the amounts of phenolic compounds released (by treatment with sodium hydroxide) from the cell walls separated from young leaves of wheat. Effects of changes in copper supply on the amounts of phenolic compounds released followed closely its effect on copper concentration in the plant parts. More ferulic and less p‐icoumaric acid was released from the walls of young leaves of copper‐deficient plants than from those of copper‐adequate ones; these differences were less marked in older than in younger leaves. Copper deficiency decreased the lignin, hemicellulose and acetyl contents of cell walls only in severely deficient plants.