| Abstract Scope |
Plant cell wall (CW) is an anisotropic hybrid composite made of structural (e.g. cellulose, pectin, lignin) and other components (e.g. glycoprotein, terpenes). To accommodate the competing demands at different development stages, plants conceive variations of these constituents through cell wall transformation, switching from soft, flexible composites at early growth stages to stiff, rigid structures at the later reproductive stages. Understanding the variation of CW components and their role in modifying the properties of CW composite is crucial. In this investigation, we focused on the primary and secondary CW using the indentation, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM imaging to reveal the composite-structural-mechanical modification as a basis for identifying design features for fiber-reinforced composite (FRC). The outcome of the study detailing the effects of pectin and lignin transformation throughout primary and secondary CW is the basis for bioinspired FRC development, extending to a broad application range from biomedical, sustainable engineering, and soft electronics. |