Secondary cell wall deposition causes radial growth of fibre cells in the maturation zone of elongating tall fescue leaf blades

A gradient of development consisting of successive zones of cell division, cell elongation and cell maturation occurs along the longitudinal axis of elongating leaf blades of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), a C3 grass. An increase in specific leaf weight (SLW; dry weight per unit leaf area) in the maturation region has been hypothesized to result from deposition of secondary cell walls in structural tissues. Our objective was to measure the transverse cell wall area (CWA) associated with the increase in SLW, which occurs following the cessation of leaf blade elongation at about 25 mm distal to the ligule. Digital image analysis of transverse sections at 5, 15, 45, 75 and 105 mm distal to the ligule was used to determine cell number, cell area and protoplast area of structural tissues, namely fibre bundles, mestome sheaths and xylem vessel elements, along the developmental gradient. Cell diameter, protoplast diameter and area, and cell wall thickness and area of fibre bundle cells were calculated from these data. CWA of structural tissues increased in sections up to 75 mm distal to the ligule, confirming the role of cell wall deposition in the increase in SLW (r2 = 0.924; P < or = 0.01). However, protoplast diameter of fibre cells did not decrease significantly as CWA increased, although mean thickness of fibre cell walls increased by 95 % between 15 and 105 mm distal to the ligule. Therefore, secondary cell wall deposition in fibre bundles of tall fescue leaf blades resulted in continued radial expansion of fibre cells rather than in a decrease in protoplast diameter.