Biomechanical Characterization of Onion Epidermal Cell Walls
Daniel Durachko,
Yong Bum Park,
Tian Zhang,
Daniel Cosgrove
Affiliations
Daniel Durachko
Department of Biology and Center for LignoCellulose Structure and Formation, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
Yong Bum Park
Department of Biology and Center for LignoCellulose Structure and Formation, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
Tian Zhang
Department of Biology and Center for LignoCellulose Structure and Formation, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, France
Daniel Cosgrove
Department of Biology and Center for LignoCellulose Structure and Formation, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
Here we describe two experimental protocols to measure the biomechanical properties of primary (growing) plant cell walls, with a focus on analyzing cell wall epidermal strips of onion scales. The first protocol measures cell wall creep (time-dependent irreversible extension) under constant force. Such creep is often mediated by the wall-loosening action of expansin or selective endoglucanases. The second protocol is based on two consecutive stretches of the wall and measures the wall’s elastic and plastic compliances, which depend on cell wall structure. These two assays provide complementary information that may be linked to cell wall structure and expansive growth of cells.
