[Campbell Biology P.826] Refer to Figure 35.28 and the accompanying text. If a plant cell ha... | Practice Question

Refer to Figure 35.28 and the accompanying text. If a plant cell had its cellulose microfibrils oriented vertically along the cell's long axis, how would this arrangement likely affect the cell's expansion?

  • A: The cell would expand primarily in length, becoming significantly longer and narrower.
  • B: The cell would expand primarily in width, becoming broader and shorter.
  • C: The cell would expand equally in all directions, becoming spherical.
  • D: The cell would not expand at all, as vertical microfibrils would prevent any growth.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: "The orientation of the cell expansion is mainly perpendicular to the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in the wall." If the microfibrils are oriented vertically along the cell's long axis, then the cell's expansion will occur primarily perpendicular to this orientation, which means in width, making the cell broader and shorter.