Comparison of Variations in the Chemical Constituents of the Rhizome and Culm of Phyllostachys pubescens at Different Ages

A systematic study was conducted on Phyllostachys pubescens by analyzing the chemical constituents of its rhizome and culm at different ages. Our results indicated that the ash contents of the rhizome and culm of P. pubescens at different ages showed the largest coefficient of variation (CV), followed by alcohol benzene extractives. The CVs of acidinsoluble lignin, holocellulose, HNO3-C2H5OH cellulose, and pentosan were relatively small. Analysis of t-tests indicated that significant differences were found in the contents of extractives, acid-insoluble lignin, holocellulose, and ash of rhizome and culm (p < 0.05). The differences in contents of HNO3-C2H5OH cellulose and pentosan were not significant. Analysis of multiplicity showed that the contents of HNO3C2H5OH cellulose, pentosan, and ash were not significantly different in bamboos at the ages examined. Likewise, the contents of lignin, alcohol benzene extractives, and holocellulose exhibited no significant difference between one-year-old and three-year-old bamboos. However, the differences in these parameters between five-year-old bamboos and oneand three-year-old bamboos were all statistically significant. Our results suggest that three-year-old P. pubescens is suitable for use as a raw material for papermaking. In addition, our findings provide a theoretical basis for effective utilization of P. pubescens and enhancement of its value.