The effects of excessive mineral salts and vitamins on fiber cell thickness in flax (Linum usitatissimum L. cultivar Sarı 85)

Abstract

The effects of mineral salts on fiber cell thickness in flax (Linum usitatissimum L. cultivar Sari 85) were investigated in plants grown in medium both rich and poor in mineral salts and vitamins. Three media were investigated: control (MS medium), mineral salt and vitamin deficient MS medium, and mineral salt and vitamin rich MS medium. While chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid pigment content significantly increased in the medium rich in mineral salts and vitamins, they decreased in the medium poor in mineral salts and vitamins. Moreover, the chlorophyll a:chlorophyll b ratio increased in the medium poor in mineral salts and vitamins. Although there was an increase in fiber cell wall thickness, sclerenchyma fiber cell extension in the stems of L. usitatissimum cultivar Sari 85 (flax) was at its lowest in sclerenchymatous cells in stems grown in the medium rich in mineral salts and vitamins. Furthermore, cell extension was highest in the medium poor in mineral salts and vitamins, and in specimens that rapidly extended when treated with pectinase. As tensile strength is positively correlated to Young's modulus, fibers of high strength often had low elongation values in plants grown in the medium rich in mineral salts and vitamins.