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Guard cells around stomata

A fresh look at guard cell walls

Arguably, one of the best known ‘structure-function’ relationships in plant biology is the role played by cellulose microfibrils within the walls of the guard cells in stomatal opening. Stomata* are the controllable...

Plant Science at the leading edge

In aeroplane design, the leading edge is either “the part of the wing that first contacts the air … or … the foremost edge of an airfoil section“. Plants – as one might expect – have a different take on that (and got...

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Lignin and/or suberin? Lignin!

For as long as the Casparian strip (CS) – an impervious component of the endodermal cell wall that blocks the passive flow of water and solutes into the vascular tissues of a plant – has been known (discovery credited...

Image: Harry T. Horner.

Don’t underestimate the druse

Although known from plants for a long time, the function of mineral inclusions – included amongst the so-called ergastic substances of old – remains speculative. Frequently composed of calcium oxalate and rather toxic...