Abstract
The processes of leaf maturation and senescence are linked closely to the redirection of ions and organic nutrients between leaves and other part of the plant. It is known from work on whole leaves, that Ca2+ and Mg2+ play an important role in leaf development, although no studies have been made of changes at the cell and tissue level. This present study follows the cellular changes in Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the epidermal and photosynthetic tissues by X-ray microanalysis of frozen hydrated leaves.Full details of sample preparation, instrumentation, and the basis of the quantitative procedures have been reported elsewhere. Flat, frozen hydrated fracture faces of upper and lower epidermis; palisade and spongy mesophyll cells were analysed for Ca2+ and Mg2+. Data was collected from each of the four cell types in 20 different leaves at each of the following five stages of growth. Juvenile (10 weeks from seed); Mature (13 weeks), Ripe (16 weeks), Senescent (19 weeks) and Old (21 weeks). Cells containing obvious calcium oxalate crystals were avoided.
Published Version
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