Plant cells build nanofibrillar walls that are central to plant growth, morphogenesis and mechanics. Starting from simple sugars, three groups of polysaccharides, namely, cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectins, with very different physical properties are assembled by the cell to make a strong yet extensible wall. This Review describes the physics of wall growth and its regulation by cellular processes such as cellulose production by cellulose synthase, modulation of wall pH by plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, wall loosening by expansin and signalling by plant hormones such as auxin and brassinosteroid. In addition, this Review discusses the nuanced roles, properties and interactions of cellulose, matrix polysaccharides and cell wall proteins and describes how wall stress and wall loosening cooperatively result in cell wall growth.

植物细胞构建纳米纤维壁，对于植物生长、形态发生和力学至关重要。从单糖开始，细胞将物理性质截然不同的三组多糖（即纤维素、半纤维素和果胶）组装在一起，形成坚固且可延展的细胞壁。本综述描述了细胞壁生长的物理原理及其细胞过程的调节，例如纤维素合酶产生纤维素、质膜 H ⁺ -ATP 酶调节细胞壁 pH 值、扩张蛋白导致细胞壁松动以及植物激素信号传导（例如如生长素和油菜素类固醇。此外，本综述讨论了纤维素、基质多糖和细胞壁蛋白的微妙作用、特性和相互作用，并描述了壁应力和壁松弛如何协同导致细胞壁生长。