Impact of plant cell wall network on biodegradation in soil: Role of lignin composition and phenolic acids in roots from 16 maize genotypes

► Phenolic acids are cross-linking agents between polysaccharides and lignin. ► Soil incubation of sixteen maize root genotypes differing in their phenolic composition. ► Cell wall characteristics resulted in almost two-fold differences in C mineralization. ► Lignin and phenolic acids controlled roots decomposition on the long-term. ► Van Soest lignin was more recalcitrant than Klason lignin.