ULTRASTRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES OF HYPERHYDRIC AND NORMAL LEAVES FROM REGENERATED CARNATION PLANTS

The anatomy of normal and hyperhydric leaves of Dianthus caryophyllus plantlets regenerated from leaves was compared using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The hyperhydric leav es had large vacuolated mesophyll cells, showing a hypertrophy of the cells and presented larger intercellular spaces. This leaf type lacked cuticular wax and chloroplasts presented abundant plastoglobuli. The guard cells were different in morphology and X-ray microanalysis demon strated high levels of K+. The alteration of guard cells could be a me chanical impediment to stomatal function. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevi er Science B.V.