A microapparatus for liquid hydrogen fluoride solvolysis: sugar and amino sugar composition of Erysiphe graminis and Triticum aestivum cell walls.

The assembly and use of a simple and safe apparatus for HF solvolysis of microgram amounts of cell walls, polysaccharides, or glycoproteins are described. Using this apparatus the cell wall composition of Erysiphe graminis was compared with that of its wheat host. The HF solvolysis combined with TFA posthydrolysis considerably increased sugar yields compared with TFA hydrolysis alone, due mainly to increased yields of glucose from wheat, and glucosamine from Erysiphe, corresponding to cellulose and chitin, respectively. A potentially useful method for determining amounts of fungal hyphae in plant tissue is also provided.