Fig. 8.

Illustrations of major differences during development of C₄ photosynthesis from the basal region to the tip of young leaves in SC-C₄ species versus Kranz-type C₄ species in subfamily Suaedoideae. Progressive changes in differentiation in two types of SC-C₄ species (B. sinuspersici and S. aralocaspica) are summarized from the current study, and compared with two structural forms of Kranz-type Suaeda species (S. taxifolia and S. eltonica) described previously (Koteyeva et al., 2011). The numbers within the leaves refer to stages of chlorenchyma development along young leaves (length ~0.6cm). For comparison with SC-C₄, the results with Kranz-type by Koteyeva et al. (2011) are summarized through four stages of development. The horizontal arrows point to specific defined changes that occur at each of the four stages. The vertical arrows indicate continual changes that occur along the longitudinal gradient. BS, bundle sheath; chp, chloroplasts; M, mesophyll; mito, mitochondria; SC-C₄, single cell C₄; C₄-D domain, C₄ cycle decarboxylation domain. (This figure is available in color at JXB online.)