Wrinkled surface on helical cell wall thickening of vessel elements in flower styl

Abstract

In the present study, wrinkled surfaces were discovered on the cell wall thickenings of helical vessels in the lilac style for the first time. The structure of the wrinkles was formed by cellulose microfibrils, with convex ridges composed of crystalline cellulose and concave grooves composed of amorphous cellulose. The cellulose microfibrils were oriented with the helical cell wall thickenings. The wrinkle morphology was due to the aligned crystalline region of the microfibrils. The wrinkle structure in the flower style might be related to the faster growth rate of style tissues during helix cell wall thickening development. Discovery of the wrinkled surface could help with the study of the developmental mechanism of helical vessel cells.