Visualization of plant cell walls by atomic force microscopy
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Updated: Oct 3, 2026

AFM-based Mapping of the Elastic Properties of Cell Walls: at Tissue, Cellular, and Subcellular Resolutions
Published on: July 24, 2014
A R Kirby1, A P Gunning, K W Waldron
1Institute of Food Research, Norwich Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Colney, England. andrew.kirby@bbsrc.ac.uk
Abstract:
Atomic force microscopy has been used to visualize the ultrastructure of hydrated plant cell wall material from prepared apple (Malus pumila MILL; Cox orange pippin), water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.; Bintje), and carrot (Daucus carota L.; Amsterdamse bak) parenchyma. Samples of cell wall material in aqueous suspension were deposited onto freshly cleaved mica. Excess water was blotted away and the moist samples were imaged in air at ambient temperature and humidity. The three-dimensional images obtained highlighted the layered structure of the plant cell walls and revealed features interpreted as individual cellulose microfibrils and plasmodesmata.
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