A survey of the natural variation in biomechanical and cell wall properties in inflorescence stems reveals new insights into the utility of Arabidopsis as a wood model

Colleen P MacMillan; P J O'Donnell; Anne-Marie Smit; R Evans; Z H Stachurski; K Torr; M West; J Baltunis; T J Strabala

doi:10.1071/FP12386

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A survey of the natural variation in biomechanical and cell wall properties in inflorescence stems reveals new insights into the utility of Arabidopsis as a wood model

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A survey of the natural variation in biomechanical and cell wall properties in inflorescence stems reveals new insights into the utility of Arabidopsis as a wood model

Colleen P MacMillan, P J O'Donnell, Anne-Marie Smit, R Evans, Z H Stachurski, K Torr, M West, J Baltunis and T J Strabala

Functional Plant Biology, Vol.40(7), pp.662-676

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12386

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Abstract

microfibril angle

neutral carbohydrate content

SilviScan

stiffness

tensile strength

The natural trait variation in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. accessions is an important resource for understanding many biological processes but it is underexploited for wood-related properties. Twelve A. thaliana accessions from diverse geographical locations were examined for variation in secondary growth, biomechanical properties, cell wall glycan content, cellulose microfibril angle (MFA) and flowering time. The effect of daylength was also examined. Secondary growth in rosette and inflorescence stems was observed in all accessions. Organised cellulose microfibrils in inflorescence stems were found in plants grown under long and short days. A substantial range of phenotypic variation was found in biochemical and wood-related biophysical characteristics, particularly for tensile strength, tensile stiffness, MFA and some cell wall components. The four monosaccharides galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and fucose strongly correlated with each other as well as with tensile strength and MFA, consistent with mutations in arabinogalactan protein and fucosyl-and xyloglucan galactosyl-transferase genes that result in decreases in strength. Conversely, these variables showed negative correlations with lignin content. Our data support the notion that large-scale natural variation studies of wood-related biomechanical and biochemical properties of inflorescence stems will be useful for the identification of novel genes important for wood formation and quality, and therefore biomaterial and renewable biofuel production.

Details

Title: A survey of the natural variation in biomechanical and cell wall properties in inflorescence stems reveals new insights into the utility of Arabidopsis as a wood model
Authors: Colleen P MacMillan (Author) - CSIRO Plant Industry
P J O'Donnell (Author) - Scion, New Zealand
Anne-Marie Smit (Author) - Scion, New Zealand
R Evans (Author) - CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering
Z H Stachurski (Author) - Australian National University
K Torr (Author) - Scion, New Zealand
M West (Author) - Scion, New Zealand
J Baltunis (Author) - CSIRO Plant Industry
T J Strabala (Author) - Scion, New Zealand
Publication details: Functional Plant Biology, Vol.40(7), pp.662-676
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1071/FP12386
ISSN: 1445-4408
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451357102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences