title: Ultrastructural studies on the natural leaf senescence of Cinnamomum camphora.
abstract: The process of natural leaf senescence of Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora)-a commercial tree in Asia, was investigated, focusing on changes in cellular ultrastructure, epicuticular wax, and stoma. The changes to mesophyll cells in a senescing leaf predominantly include degradation of the following cellular components: cytoplasm, the central vacuole, small vacuoles, and vesicles with a diameter smaller than 400 nm, which are involved in the degradation of chloroplasts. The sequence of change in epicuticular wax during leaf senescence was different from those in herbaceous plants by atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscopic analysis. Comparing with maturation leaves, senescing leaves develop a wider aperture in their stoma, which would delay the leaf senescence of C. camphora.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China; Public Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yantun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D027423:Cinnamomum camphora / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
keywords: Cinnamomum camphora; chloroplast degradation; epicuticular wax; leaf senescence; stoma; vacuole