Impact of cadmium on early stages of flax fibre differentiation: Ultrastructural aspects and pectic features of cell walls

► Little is known about the effect of metals on the metabolism of flax fibre cell-wall. ► The impact of Cd was studied on fibre structure, pectin distribution and composition. ► The Cd-alteration of fibre CW-II ultrastructure occurred early at 10 days. ► No early deesterification of pectins occurred in fibre cell-walls. ► A Cd-impact was observed on the amount of uronic acids.