8-31 Genetic analysis of fiber differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana . The evolution of fibers in vascular plants has strong selective advantage. With secondary walls and, in most cases, incorporation of lignin in the walls, fibers provide both structural support and protection for the plant body.
Fibers appear in various parts of the plant.
They are parts of xylem and phloem tissues. They also occur in the cortex or mesophyll of leaves. Due to the lack of suitable tools, the study of fiber differentiation in molecular detail has not been paid much attention. We have been using Arabidopsis plants to dissect the mechanisms directing fiber differentiation. Arabidopsis develops extraxylary fibers in cortical regions of the stem at the late stage of stem development.