The autofluorescence of cell walls or cell wall parts can be quantified by microspectroscopy. In lignified cell walls it is mainly phenol rings which give rise to autofluorescence. The intensity of autofluorescence depends on the cell wall composition and construction. The changes in autofluorescence can be used only as a coarse indicator of cell wall products as long as the construction and composition are unknown. However changes in composition such as those that occur during cell wall development or cell wall breakdown can be followed by the decrease in autofluorescence intensity or shift in wavelength. Thus when used in combination with other methods of analysis, autofluorescence can be a rapid and useful technique in cell wall research.