Meetings of the Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands

In the plant kingdom, (1 ->-3)-β-D-glucans, i.e. chains of (1 ->3)-β-linked D-glucose residues, are of widespread occurrence. They can serve as a storage product, e.g. in the shape of the paramylon grains of Euglenophyta, or may have a function in the cell wall, which is the case in particular in many fungi. In higher plants (1 ->-3)-β-D-glucans are found e.g. in the callus-cushions on the sieve plates of older sieve tubes. Although it is well known that the (1 ->3)-β-D-glucans may occur in microcrystalline condition and may form microfibrils, their physical properties are poorly explored.