The helicoidal plant cell wall as a performing cellulose‐based composite

Abstract

The helicoidal plant cell wall can be considered as a composite in which cellulose is the constant reinforcing fiber. In order to strengthen the analogy with cholesteric liquid crystals, and taking into account a range of data, we describe a progressive series showing that cellulosic helicoidal systems are versatile and multifunctional. The following examples were considered: a) the cellulose microfibrils, with their rigid backbone possibly coated with a plastifying matrix; b) actual cholesteric cellulosic derivatives, such as in vitro liquid crystals and in vitro cellulosic mucilages; c) viscoplastic. growing cell walls; d) consolidated “stony” cell walls with their adaptation to intercellular communications. The series shows a dramatic progression from a liquid construction to what is the hardest in the plant cells, i.e. the sclerified walls.