Fig. 5

Lignin polymerized in vitro with low concentrations of coniferyl alcohol forms a thin layer of lignin that covers the cellulose surface. A–C Lignocellulose adhered to glass surface imaged using interference reflection microscopy; scale bar = 10 µm. D–F Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy micrographs of lignocellulose stained with the lignin dye Basic Fuchsin; scale bar = 10 µm. G Distribution of intensity values from Basic Fuchsin signal on lignocellulose surface of cellulose-only sample (blue), 0.11 mM CA lignocellulose sample (red), and 0.33 mM CA lignocellulose sample (purple). The frequency peaks for each sample were normalized to a value of 1 and the x-axis was truncated at 2500 A.U. Yellow squares indicate the 250-pixel by 250-pixel area of cellulose that intensity values were measured. Line scans that show fluorescence intensity across the samples are provided in Additional file 1: Fig. S5