Cellulose-based composites as models for primary plant cell walls of cereals and grasses (2005-2007)

Cell walls provide the structural framework for plants and play critical roles in growth & development as well as in post-harvest and food properties. For cereals and grasses major wall polymer families are well characterised but assembly processes and the contribution of each polymer type to architectural and mechanical properties of walls are not understood. This project will study composites of cereal/grass wall polymers with cellulose and will characterise molecular structure macromolecular architecture enzyme sensitivity and relevant mechanical properties of composites. The aim is to derive a molecular and architectural model for the assembly and materials behaviour of cereal/grass primary cell walls