Cell wall can be considered as a nano-composite in which cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses are
interconnected in a specific manner. Mechanical and physical propreties of plant fibres are dependent
on the orientation of constituent polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin). Fourier transform
infrared (FTIR) microscopy was used to examine the orientation of the main plant polymers in
transversal and longitudinal direction of the isolated cell wall of the maize leaves. Polarised FTIR
measurements indicated an anisotropy, i.e. orientation of the cellulose microfibrils that was more or
less parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cell wall. Xylan has parallel orientation with regard to the
orientation of cellulose, as well as lignin