Reading the nerves leaf
2006/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
Researchers at the University of Alberta have analysed the development of leaf nerves. The researchers already knew that a hormone, auxin, promotes the growth of nerves. As the leaf grows, the auxin advances and with it the nerves expand. But how is auxin channelled?
To analyze it, they highlighted the protein that carries auxin through a fluorescent marker. Thus, they have seen that in each nerve there are special cells that take care of transport in two directions opposite to auxin. In addition, they have demonstrated the importance of leaf epidermis in hormonal transport and in the formation of nerves.
However, according to scientists, it has been even more important to note that the plant uses the same mechanism to correct the growth of branches that are formed both from the trunk and from the main root.
