Stomata

Stomata, guard cells and leaf hair

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Microscopy of stomata: light microscopy of fresh maize leaf and mais leaf strip, and SEM of Tradescantia></center></A></td></tr>
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Hairs and guard cells with stomata at the surface of leaves
SEM view of the surface of a Coleus leaf with hairs and stomataOverview image: This view shows a portion of epidermis at the abaxial side (lower part) of a leaf of Coleus sp. The epidermis has been painted in yellow, the guard cells in (1) pink and the leaf hairs (2) in purple. Leaf hairs contribute to buid a kind of microclimate at the leaf surface. they also render the leaf less attractive for parasites. The epidermis of land plants is rather impermeable and offers protection against dessication and other nuisable factors. These organisms possess stomata (splits, indicated by pointers) in order to achieve exchange of photosynthesis gasses between the intern parts of the leaf and the environment.
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Animation of opening of stomata in relationship with turgor pressure Each pair of guard cells controls the opening and closing movement of a single stoma by means of turgor pressure. This mechanism depends on a variety of factors such as the light conditions, the temperature, the relative humidity and the CO2-concentration.
Source and link to full paper:Britannica.com

 
Software development: Jeroen van Beurden. Web structure: Remco Aalbers. Text and images: Elisabeth Pierson and Huub Geurts

http://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/fesem/applets/surface/print/

last modified: 1 Jan 2012