Casparian strip development and its potential function in salt tolerance.

The root system is particularly affected by unfavourable conditions because it is in direct contact with the soil environment. Casparian strips, a specialised structure deposited in anticlinal walls, are characterised by the impregnation of the primary wall pores with lignin and suberin. The Casparian strips in the endo- and exodermis of vascular plant roots appear to play an important role in preventing the non-selective apoplastic bypass of salts into the stele along the apoplast under salt stress.

Structure, chemical composition, and xylanase degradation of external layers isolated from developing wheat grain.

The external layers of wheat grain were investigated during maturation with respect to chemical and structural features and xylanase degradability. Cytochemical changes were observed in the isolated peripheral tissues of the wheat grain at four defined stages following anthesis. Marked chemical changes were highlighted at 11 days after anthesis, for which protein and lipid contents varied weakly.