Morphological Characteristics of Leaf Epidermal Cells in Lines of Maize that Differ in Endogenous Levels of Abscisic Acid and Drought Resistance

Abstract

Morphological characteristics of leaf adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells in high-level ABA drought-resistant (lines ZPBL 1304, L-155, and Polj 17) and low-level ABA drought-sensitive (lines ZPL 389, B-432, and F-2) lines of maize were investigated. Lines with higher levels of ABA and/or greater drought resistance had more xeromorphic epidermal cells (smaller cell area, smaller cell length, smaller perimeter) either on both leaf surfaces or on the abaxial leaf surface than lines with lower levels of ABA and/or lower drought resistance. The possible relationship between the size of leaf cells and drought resistance is unclear, although the reduction in cell sizes may contribute to turgor maintenance under water stress conditions, as suggested in the literature.