Calcium-pectin chemistry and biomechanics: Biological background and mathematical modelling

Abstract

In this chapter the impact of pectin and calcium-pectin chemistry on the mechanical properties, morphogenesis, and growth of plant cell walls and tissues is considered. We combine an overview of the underlying biological processes with the formulation of and numerical simulation results for mathematical models for interactions between the chemistry and mechanical properties and growth of plant cell walls. The role of the microscopic structure of plant cell walls and pectin-related cell wall signalling pathways in the interplay between the pectin chemistry and mechanics is also discussed.