I work in the department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology with Stuart Casson, and also with Nick Monk of the school of Mathematics and Statistics.
There are two ways of measuring the number of stomata on the leaf epidermis: stomatal index, which measures stomata as a percentage of the number of total epidermal cells; and stomatal density, which measures stomata per mm2 of leaf surface area. In some instances, there is notable uncoupling of the density and index values. This suggests that the frequency of stomata per mm2 of leaf surface can be maintained either by increased cell expansion or cell division- but why would the plant favour one over the other in certain circumstances? I am investigating whether this discrepancy is due to a difference in the amount of energy required to perform a cellular division when compared to cellular expansion. |
Contact infohttps://github.com/rcdenleybowers
|
In order to determine if efficiency plays a role in the development , a model based on the change in the population of different cell types in the epidermis is being pursued.
To gather data for this model, counts were carried out of the different cell types in abaxial surface impressions of leaves at various stages of development. This wil provide an insight into how the populations of different cell types- pavement cells, meristemoids, guard cells, etc- change over time. |