EARLY EVENTS IN LEAF DEVELOPMENT

Morphological studies of early events in leaf development have been hi ndered by the lack of stereotypic patterns of cell division and marker s for cell identity. However, molecular genetic analysis, particularly in maize, has begun to suggest the mechanisms which partition meriste matic cells into a leaf primordium, define regional identities within the primordium and direct localised growth which lends to outgrowth an d flattening of the leaf Therefore, the leaf may provide a model for p attern formation applicable to other parts of the plant.