Plant cell walls are composed of multiple biopolymers resulting from coordinated synthesis and remodeling processes. Cel walls are highly complex and dynamic structures that serve as barriers against pathogens, provide resistance against abiotic stresses, and give structural support for plant growth. Cell walls also constitute the majority of plant biomass, and thus play a crucial role in the food and biofuel industries. The physicochemical properties of the main cell wall compounds (cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin, and lignin) determine biomass digestibility, thereby modulating nutrient release, gut biota, and ultimately health. This property also influences the production of biofuels, e.g. biomass fermentation to produce bioethanol. Understanding the cell wall is therefore crucial for improving plant biomaterials and developing plants with important characteristics for the food, agricultural, and bioenergy industries.
This Research Topic aims to collate a wide spectrum of perspectives and advances in plant cell wall research. We invite Original Research articles highlighting significant discoveries, e.g. in biosynthesis and the genes underlying cell wall properties, and Methods articles on novel methodological approaches in cell wall biochemistry and biophysics (e.g. solid-state NMR to elucidate cell wall structure). We also welcome Review papers discussing the current challenges and advances within the field.
Overall, we encourage articles covering:
• Plant cell wall biosynthesis;
• Plant cell wall structure;
• The dynamic plant cell wall: the regulation of synthesis, remodeling, and degradation;
• Plant cell wall role in defense against abiotic and biotic stresses;
• Important cell wall properties in bioenergy and biomaterials applications;
• Structural and mechanistic properties of plant cell walls relevant to food applications: dietary fiber, digestion, gut biota, health;
• Recent advances in methods used to study plant cell walls.
Topic Editor Rowan Mitchell is the founder of Rowan Mitchell Grass Science. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Plant cell walls are composed of multiple biopolymers resulting from coordinated synthesis and remodeling processes. Cel walls are highly complex and dynamic structures that serve as barriers against pathogens, provide resistance against abiotic stresses, and give structural support for plant growth. Cell walls also constitute the majority of plant biomass, and thus play a crucial role in the food and biofuel industries. The physicochemical properties of the main cell wall compounds (cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin, and lignin) determine biomass digestibility, thereby modulating nutrient release, gut biota, and ultimately health. This property also influences the production of biofuels, e.g. biomass fermentation to produce bioethanol. Understanding the cell wall is therefore crucial for improving plant biomaterials and developing plants with important characteristics for the food, agricultural, and bioenergy industries.
This Research Topic aims to collate a wide spectrum of perspectives and advances in plant cell wall research. We invite Original Research articles highlighting significant discoveries, e.g. in biosynthesis and the genes underlying cell wall properties, and Methods articles on novel methodological approaches in cell wall biochemistry and biophysics (e.g. solid-state NMR to elucidate cell wall structure). We also welcome Review papers discussing the current challenges and advances within the field.
Overall, we encourage articles covering:
• Plant cell wall biosynthesis;
• Plant cell wall structure;
• The dynamic plant cell wall: the regulation of synthesis, remodeling, and degradation;
• Plant cell wall role in defense against abiotic and biotic stresses;
• Important cell wall properties in bioenergy and biomaterials applications;
• Structural and mechanistic properties of plant cell walls relevant to food applications: dietary fiber, digestion, gut biota, health;
• Recent advances in methods used to study plant cell walls.
Topic Editor Rowan Mitchell is the founder of Rowan Mitchell Grass Science. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.