UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Tang, Xiaowei
Dept./Program:
Botany and Agricultural Biochemistry
Year:
2006
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
The fresh cell wall of Chara corallina internodal cell was first split into inner and outer portions. Its mechanical and structural properties were then studied, employing physical modulus measurement as well as microscopy work. The moduli measured this way supported the hypothesis that the inner one fourth of the thickness supports most of the tensile load generated by turgor pressure for cells of any age. Polarized microscopy revealed that the cellulose microfibril orientation throughout Chara cell wall is quite different from that of Nitella, which suggested that it might be under the control of a distinct cell wall growth mechanism rather than multi-net theory. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that cellulose content of the inner portion is significantly higher than that of the outer portion. These researches were done on cell series from the whole plants, which gave the above information in a growing context and shed light on the trends of changes in mechanical and structural properties with all age.