title: Electron-opaque fibrils and granules in and between the cell walls of higher plants.
abstract: The components of higher-plant cell walls which become electron-opaque after staining with ruthenium-osmium were studied by electron microscopy. A fibrillar material which absorbs this stain is a major wall constituent in the root epidermal cells of carrot and morning glory. In both form and size, these fibrils resemble those found on the surface of suspension-cultured cells of the same species Some cells of woody species show an irregular distribution of electron-opaque material in the cell wall matrix and middle lamella. This material, which has an amorphous appearance with many electron stains, is shown by ruthenium-osmium staining to be an aggregate of discrete granules, 150-220 A in diameter. These observations are not consistent with the concept of the cell wall matrix and middle lamella as an amorphous, uniform gel
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall; D006652:Histological Techniques; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009992:Osmium; D059828:Plant Cells; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000166:cytology; D012428:Ruthenium; D014197:Trees / Q000166:cytology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D009992:Osmium; D012428:Ruthenium