Molecular Decay of Plant Biopolymers - Biopolymers: A Molecular Paleontology Approach - page 14

revealed the presence of lignin and aliphatic polymer up to C 29 with minor amounts
of cellulose. Fossils from the Miocene of Clarkia revealed lignin and an aliphatic
polymer up to C 27 without any polysaccharides. Thus, analysis of fossils revealed a
signifi cant macromolecular aliphatic component that was absent in the modern
counterpart, attributing to its formation during diagenesis. The resistant nature of
cutin compared to lignin and polysaccharides explains the ubiquitous presence of an
n -alkyl component (<C 20 ) in fossil leaves and terrestrially derived organic matter
even when the analysis reveals that polysaccharides are absent and lignin has
decayed; cutin and its diagenetically altered products contribute signifi cantly to the
of aliphatic components in sedimentary organic matter.
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