STUDIES ON THE GROWING PROCESS OF CELLULOSE FIBER

(VI) THE VARIATION OF CRYSTALLINE REGION IN LINT DURING THE GROWING PROCESS OF COTTON FIBER

Abstract

In order to make clear the formation of cellulose chain molecule and its aggregate state, the amount of crystalline region and the average degree of polymerization of crystalline region (the length of crystalline particle) in lint during the growing process of cotton fiber were daily measured. The cotton variety used for this research was “Rikuchimen Kanno No.1, ” a sort of upland cotton. Maeda's method of acid hydrolysis was used for the measurement of amount of crystalline region. The amount of crystalline region in lint shows constant value (78-82%) and the length of crystalline particle also shows constant value (130-140 as the degree of polymerization in glucose rest.) from the day when wall thickening just begins, until the day when boll openning just finishes.
From above experiments and the observations by electron microscope, it may be concluded that the micell or microfibrill generates in cell on the same aggregate state from the day when wall thickening just begins and deposits inside the wall of lumen, and the growth of wall thickeness daily proceeds.