Extractability and digestibility of plant cell wall polysaccharides during hydrothermal and enzymatic degradation of wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.).

Highlights: [•] Xylo-oligos’ released during pretreatment have DP≤20 (most 3–8); more acetylated in stems. [•] AX and MLG released during pretreatment; xylan, XG, glucan and mannan remain only alkali-extractable. [•] All polysaccharides partly digestible after pretreatment, regardless extractability. [•] Digestibility correlates with polysaccharides’ structural organisation. [•] Results correlate with previous models of the primary type II cell wall. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]