Transverse sections of stem tissue from the irx9 irx9L, irx14 irx14L, and fra8 f8h mutant combinations reveal collapsed xylem vessels and reduced secondary cell wall formation. Transverse sections of stem tissues from wild-type (A, G, M), irx9-L (B), irx9 (C), irx9/+ irx9-L (D), irx9 irx9-L/+ (E), irx9 irx9-L (F), irx14-L (H), irx14 (I), irx14/+ irx14-L (J), irx14 irx14-L/+ (K), irx14 irx14-L (L), f8h (N), fra8 (O), fra8/+ f8h (P), fra8 f8h/+ (Q), and fra8 f8h (R) plants. Xylem (A1–R1), interfascicular region (A2–R2). Arrows indicate collapsed xylem elements. Scale bar, 20 μm.