Temperature and atmospheric humidity effects on cell wall content and dry matter digestibility of some tropical and temperate grasses

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Abstract
The experiment was under a controlled environment. Tissue harvested for analysis for each species and each environmental treatment was of comparable development stage based on the attainment of full expansion of particular leaves. When plants were adequately watered, large differences in daytime atmospheric humidity had only small and inconsistent effects on dry matter digestibility and cell wall content. High temperature reduced the dry matter digestibility and increased the cell wall content of recently expanded leaves of both tropical and temperate grasses. As individual leaves aged, the detrimental effect of high temperature on digestibility increased, but cell wall content was not affected. Circumstantial evidence suggests that high temperature decreased the digestibility of existing cell wall material, particularly as leaves aged. These changes may reflect an acceleration of the normal processes of tissue maturation. Leaves of comparable physiological maturity which are formed at progressively later stages of plant regrowth contain increased proportions of cell wall.