Cell Wall Constituents, Especially Pectic Substance of a Marine Phanerogam Zostera marina

Abstract

The cell wall constituents of a marine seed plant, Zostera marina, were chemically investigated. They seemed roughly to consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectic substance just as in common land plants. However, the methoxyl content of the pectic substance was very low as compared
with that of the latter, the extent being approximately only 12% of the total carboxyl group. It was found, in addition, that about 7% of ester-like sulfate was present in this substance. In view of these facts, the pectic substance seemed to participate in the ion absorption of this marine flowering plant.