CYTOSKELETAL INVOLVEMENT IN COTTON FIBER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

The organization of cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls influences physical properties of the wall and thus cell expansion characteristics. Developing cotton fiber represents an excellent model system for the analysis of the biological regulation of cell wall patterns. Current research indicates that the cytoskeleton has a major role in directing the deposition and organization of cellulose microfibrils in the cell walls of many plant systems, including developing cotton fibers. Both microtubules and microfilaments appear to be involved in regulating changes observed in microfibril patterns during fiber development. The polylamellate architecture of the fiber wall can be attributed to changes in the orientation of cytoplasmic microtubules which appear to direct the orientation of microfibril deposition in each successive layer of the fiber wall. In the drug-induced absence of microtubules, cellulose is deposited in the fiber wall in a swirled pattern of bundled microfibrils. Interaction between adjacent microfibrils may influence cell wall organization on a localized level. In contrast to the direct involvement of microtubules on wall organization, microfilaments appear to be indirectly involved in the deposition of cellulose microfibrils. Current evidence indicates that microfilaments influence wall organization by controlling changes in microtubules patterns. Although a greater understanding of the relationship between the cytoskeleton and the fiber wall is needed, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that genetic manipulation of cytoskeletal components is one path toward future direct manipulation of cell expansion characteristics in many plant systems and may lead to improvements in the textile qualities of cotton fibers.