Fig. 6. Laser ablations of the L₁ layer in the centre have local effects on cell division orientation, but not on meristem maintenance and phyllotaxis. (A) Scanning electron micrograph of a meristem immediately after superficial ablation in the centre (yellow arrowhead). (B) Longitudinal section of a meristem immediately after treatment as in A. (C-E) Consecutive video images of a single meristem after ablation as in A: (C) 1 day, (D) 2 days and (E) 3 days after ablation. Note normal phyllotaxis. (F) Longitudinal section through a meristem 5 days after ablation as in A. Note periclinal divisions in cells just below the ablation. P₂ and P₁ indicate leaf primordia that were present at the beginning of the experiment; I₁ and I₂ indicate primordia formed after the ablation. Scale bars: 100 µm.

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