Polysaccharides in cones of eleven coniferous species growing in Turkey

Composition of polysaccharides in the cones of conifer species growing in Turkey was studied. The content of polysaccharides was between 39 and 57% (w/w). The total amount of polysaccharides was generally higher in pine species. Polyoses were the predominant polysaccharides. The percentage of polyoses was between 23.3 and 33.9% (w/w). The main units of polyoses were mannose and galactose, while in some species xylose was the other important sugar unit. Between 1 and 6.7% of the polyoses were soluble in hot water. Polyoses were more readily dissolved from fir species than from other species. Galactoglucomannan was dissolved from all cones. Contrary to wood, the content of cellulose was only between 13 and 27.5% (w/w) in cones.