Researchers have been able to watch the interior cells of a plant produce cellulose for the first time, by tricking the cells into growing on the plant's surface, according to a recent study at the University of British Columbia.

"The bulk of the world's cellulose is produced within the thickened secondary cell walls of tissues hidden inside the plant body," said Yoichiro Watanabe, the study's lead author. "So we've never been able to image the cells in high resolution as they produce this all-important biological material inside living plants."

Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and it is the essential building block for many textiles, pulp and paper, building materials and renewable biofuels, according to a news release.

"In order to be structurally sound, plants have to lay down their secondary cell walls very quickly once the plant has stopped growing, like a layer of concrete with rebar," said Lacey Samuels, a senior author in the study and UBC botanist.

Plant cells require a high density of enzymes to produce cellulose, astheir rapid movements across plant cell surfaces enables the process to happen quickly, according to the researchers.

"This is a major step forward in our understanding of how plants synthesize their walls, specifically cellulose," said Shawn Mansfield, Forestry Researcher, who supervised the study.

"It could have significant implications for the way plants are bred or selected for improved or altered cellulose ultra-structural traits, which could impact industries ranging from cellulose Nano crystals to toiletries to structural building products."

In the study, the researchers used a small flowering plant similar to cabbage and mustard to conduct the experiment. The resulting plants looked exactly like the non-modified parents, until they were triggered to make secondary cell walls on their exterior, according to the researchers. 

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