Dedifferentiated guard cells in magnoliaceous leaves.

ABSTRACT

Evidence has been obtained that guard cells and other epidermal cells as well as mesophyll cells undergo division during wound repair of mature leaves in 26 magnoliaceous taxa in the genera Kmeria, Elmerrillia, Magnolia, Manglietia, Michelia, Paramichelia, and Talauma. Division of epidermal cells is believed to be rare in mature leaves, and division of guard cells is particularly unusual in most species previously studied.