Describe the structure of cell wall.
A non-living rigid structure called the cell wall forms an outer covering for the plasma membrane of fungi and plants. Cell wall does not only give shape to the cell and but protect the cell from mechanical damage and infection. It also helps in cell-to-cell interaction and provides barrier to undesirable macromolecules. Algae have cell wall, made of cellulose, galactans, mannans and minerals like calcium carbonate, while in other plants it consists of cehulose, hemicellulose, pectins and proteins. The cell wall of a young plant cell, the primary wall is capable of growth, which gradually diminishes as the cell matures and the secondary wall is formed on the inner side of the cell The middle lamella is a layer mainly of calcium pectate which holds or glues the different neighbouring cells together. The cell wall and middle lamellae may be transferred by plasmodesmata which connect the cytoplasm of neighbouring cells.
