Lignin is a large phenolic polymer found in the cell wall of most land
plants. Volume ABR104, provides in-depth reviews on the most recent
discoveries in the field. It revisits the lignin paradigm and reviews
the occurrence of unconventional lignin precursors that are derived from
both the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, and from other polyphenolic
biosynthetic pathways. The volume encompasses the most recent data about
the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in a environment of
polysaccharides, the importance of oxidases, the pivotal role of
feruloylation and coumaroylation of the cell wall both in the lignified
stem and in the cereal grain. The volume gives an important part to the
transcriptional regulation at different scales. At last, vibrational and
fluorescence microscopy methods to characterize the lignin-decorated
cell wall as well the most recent bioengineering approaches towards
lignin modification are reviewed.