Figure 6.

MLKS2 is required for normal stomatal complex development.

Mature stomatal complex in DAPI stained leaf from wild-type W22 (a-c), mlks2-1 (d-f) or mlks2-2 (g-i) plants. For comparison, a typical stomatal complex has bilateral symmetry with two elongated central dumbbell-shaped guard cells (GC) flanked by two outer subsidiary cells (SC). In the mlks2-1 d-f) or mlks2-2 g-i) mutants, subsidiary cells appear abnormal (arrows) in their number, shape, or nuclear position relative to the guard cells. j-l) Representative images from early stages of stomatal development where subsidiary mother cells (SMC) are polarizing, with nuclei migrating towards the guard mother cells (GMC). Interstomatal cells (ISC) are annotated for W22. m-o) Representative images of developing stomatal complex after SMC polarization. Boundaries of abnormally shaped cells or cells with abnormal nuclear positioning are marked with dotted lines. Scale bars denote 15 µm.