Li, JuanJuanLiKasal, BohumilBohumilKasal2025-06-062025-06-062025https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/48837510.1021/acs.biomac.4c012782-s2.0-8521776092439945405In this review, we provide an overview of how atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements on wood or other plant fibers help us understand the structure-property relationship in growing plants, matured wood material, and wood modifications and aging. We selected wood as a model material that can represent a number of lignocellulosic systems and attempted to address the structure-property relationship, as studied in situ. We selected AFM because it allows scientists to study materials in an unaltered, in situ form and relate chemical composition to material properties at a nanoscale level. We summarized the high-resolution measurements of wood cell walls such as topography, adhesion force, modulus, and chemical functional groups using AFM. Our three focus areas were: (1) how the cell wall develops its structure and property in living trees; (2) how the ultrastructure determines cell wall property; and (3) how the modification/aging of the cell wall changes its property in application scenarios.entruereview