Structure of Cell wall
Structure of Cell wall -The cell wall contain the following part
1- Primary Cell wall
2- Secondary cell wall
3- Tertiary Cell wall
4- Middle lamella
Structure of Cell wall
1- Primary cell wall
- It is first formed outermost layer of cell
- It is Secreted by cytoplasm on the side of middle lamella
- It is a thin tender and elastic layer
- In this the microfibrils are not properly arranged but at the maturity they arrange slowly in length.
- In young meristematic and parenchymatous cells Primary wall is the main limiting membrane.
- It is relatively thin and permeable membrane.
- It is elastic and can extend as cells grow but when more cellulose is deposited on this layer it become more rigid
- In Certain epidermal cell cutin and cutin waxes are also deposited on it that make it impermeable to water.
2- Secondary cell wall
- It is made by the deposition of other substances such as lignin on plasma membrane.
- The cellulose fiber are arranged parallel in this wall and embded in hemicellulose and lignin.
- It is comparatively thicker than primary cell wall.
- It is generally present in mature permanent or non growing cells
- It is composed of cellulose, Pectins non cellulose polysaccharides, Lignin and a Phenolic polymer which give hardness and mechanical rigidity to the wood.
- In mature cells it appears to be 9 -10µm thick layer.
- It is divided into three layers
A- Outer layer – S1
B- Middle layer – S2
C- Inner Layer – S3
- The outer S1 layer are attached with primary cell wall.
- The middle S2 layer comparatively thick
- The inner layer S3 is very thin and delicate.
- The secondary cell wall gives extra protection and strength to cell.
3- Tertiary cell wall
- It is a xylane rich layer which is deposited inner to the secondory wall
- Generally they are present in tracheids of gymnosperms particularly in coniferous woods.
- It is very thin and occurs in the form of small swelling or warty out growth on the innermost side of the cell wall.
4- Middle lamella
- It is present in between cells walls of two adjacent cells.
- It unite to primary cell wall of other adjacent cell.
- Chemically it is composed of pectin (Carbohydrate, Glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid + Ca++ and Mg++ (Pactates))
- The pactates are viscous and gelatinous.
- The young cells are compactly bounded with middle lamella but in mature cell the middle lamella is dissolved and consequently cells are loosened.
- It is non crystalized layer which is dissolved in pectinase enzyme.
- It is a porous layer through these pores the cytoplasm of other cells via cytoplasmic threads.
- These cytoplasmic threads are called plasmodesmata. They Differ in shapes and size.