ANATOMICAL VARIATION ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE <i>ZEA MA YS</i> LEAF IN RELATION TO PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Abstract

SUMMARY Anatomical features of the leaf, related to C 4 photosynthetic activity, were examined along the length of the second leaf of 7‐day‐old plants grown under a diurnal light regime. Changes of significance to photosynthetic activity were observed in cuticle thickness, stomatal size and frequency, mesophyll anatomy and interveinal distance. Anatomical changes within the basal 3 cm of the leaf were attributable to development. Above this region, variation in some anatomical characteristics, notably stomatal frequency and interveinal distance, could only be attributed to ontogenetic differences between parts of the leaf.