In the previous post  I explained how I was preparing sections of maize root for beam time on the NSLS II this coming week. Last week, I finished preparing the second batch of sections (the thicker ones) and I also looked at representative sections in SEM. I wanted to check my assumptions about which way the cellulose microfibrils run. We did study this rather carefully for the maize root. But that was years ago, I didn’t do the work with my own hands, so good to be cautious. Also, I could collect pictures that I can show to my collaborators at BNL, Lin and Shirish, so they can see what I see.

As I explained, I cut sections from the root tip, where I expected the cellulose microfibrils to be transverse to the root’s long axis, and I cut sections from about 5 cm back from the tip, where I expected the microfibrils to be oblique. On Friday, I had a look at one section from each zone in the SEM.

Score one for reproducibility (Fig. 1)! I looked at a dozen cells or so in each region and the microfibrils were all doing what they were supposed to be doing: transverse at the tip, oblique farther back. I also took lower magnification images to show Lin and Shirish the way the cell walls wrinkle at various length scales. One of the reasons why I am aiming to get this to work with hydrated samples is because in the living state, with turgor pressure, there should not be wrinkles. But first we need a signal.

Beam time this Thursday and Friday. Stay tuned!