中国石灰岩专性凤仙花叶表皮特征及其分类学意义

通过光学显微镜和扫描电镜技术对中国产的8种凤仙花科植物叶表皮微形态特征进行了实验研究,其中6种产于石灰岩地区,另外2种作为对照.结果表明,中国石灰岩地区的6种凤仙花的叶表皮微形态上、下表皮差异明显,上表皮细胞为不规则形和多边形,一般不具气孔器;下表皮细胞均为不规则形,均具气孔器,气孔器多为不等型.上、下表皮细胞形状、垂...     

Meiotic irregularities in diploid and tetraploid plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium multiflorum</Emphasis> Lam.

The genus Lolium comprises several species of economical importance in temperate countries, mostly due to their high nutritional value and adaptability to cold environments, including southern regions of Brazil. Recently, several diploid cultivars and populations, as well as synthetic tetraploid cultivars have been explored. In order to viabilize or to direct crossings, it is important that the accessions present regular meiosis, thus, producing viable pollen grains. In this way, this study aimed at investigating the meiosis of nine accessions of Lolium multiflorum used in breeding programs, seeking to evaluate its viability in future crossings. The meiosis of diploid plants (2n?=?2×?=?14) is more regular than the artificially tetraploidized genotypes (2n?=?4×?=?28). In the tetraploids, univalent, bivalent, and multivalent configurations were observed. The irregularities were associated to mixoploidy, irregular segregation of chromosomes, spindle disorders, asynchrony, micronuclei, and cellular fusion and formation of syncyte. The abnormalities affected the meiotic index of tetraploid cultivars, characterizing them as unstable. Nevertheless, both diploid and tetraploid genotypes are considered able to participate in crossings because, although there are abnormalities, they do not occur at levels that could affect the production of viable pollen grains.     

Leaf anatomy as an additional taxonomy tool for 18 taxa of Matricaria L. and Tripleurospermum Sch. Bip. (Anthemideae-Asteraceae) in Turkey

This study concerns the evaluation of leaf anatomical characteristics of the closely related genera Matricaria (4 taxa) and Tripleurospermum (14 endemic taxa, 15 accessions) in Turkey using cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA). All taxa have the same basic leaf structure composed of lower and upper epidermis including anomocytic or anomocytic-anisocytic stomata, parenchymatic mesophyll, and vascular bundle. Statistically significant differences based on ploidy level have been found without generic delimitation. The differences mainly concern stomatal length and the relative size of the vascular bundle. These anatomical characters can be used to distinguish diploid from polyploid taxa of the genera.     

Large-scale patterns of stomatal traits in Tibetan and Mongolian grassland species

We aimed to disentangle the influence of environmental variables on the spatial patterns in stomatal occurrence and stomatal traits. We surveyed the stomatal occurrence and the stomatal length (SL), density (SD) and index (SI) of 99 species in 150 grassland sites on the Tibetan and Inner Mongolian Plateau to explore their spatial patterns and evaluate the influence of climate. Of all species studied, two thirds were amphistomatous. The species from the Tibetan Plateau had larger but fewer stomata than those from Inner Mongolia. Among the climate factors examined, temperature and insolation affected SD, SI and SL, whereas the CO₂ partial pressure and the relative humidity affected SD. The climatic variables showed similar effects on the spatial variation of the adaxial and abaxial stomatal traits. We conclude that the low temperature and high insolation at high altitudes may be responsible for the larger and fewer stomata in plants on the Tibetan Plateau. The stomatal parameters that are presented here can be used to model the gas exchanges at the ecosystem scale.     

Stomatal conductance and not stomatal density determines the long-term reduction in leaf transpiration of poplar in elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Using a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment, poplar trees (Populus × euramericana clone I214) were exposed to either ambient or elevated [CO₂] from planting, for a 5-year period during canopy development, closure, coppice and re-growth. In each year, measurements were taken of stomatal density (SD, number mm⁻²) and stomatal index (SI, the proportion of epidermal cells forming stomata). In year 5, measurements were also taken of leaf stomatal conductance (g _s, μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), photosynthetic CO₂ fixation (A, mmol m⁻² s⁻¹), instantaneous water-use efficiency (A/E) and the ratio of intercellular to atmospheric CO₂ (C_i:C_a). Elevated [CO₂] caused reductions in SI in the first year, and in SD in the first 2 years, when the canopy was largely open. In following years, when the canopy had closed, elevated [CO₂] had no detectable effects on stomatal numbers or index. In contrast, even after 5 years of exposure to elevated [CO₂], g _s was reduced, A/E was stimulated, and C_i:C_a was reduced relative to ambient [CO₂]. These outcomes from the long-term realistic field conditions of this forest FACE experiment suggest that stomatal numbers (SD and SI) had no role in determining the improved instantaneous leaf-level efficiency of water use under elevated [CO₂]. We propose that altered cuticular development during canopy closure may partially explain the changing response of stomata to elevated [CO₂], although the mechanism for this remains obscure.     

Irregular 24-hour activity rhythms and the metabolic syndrome in older adults

Circadian rhythms – near 24?h intrinsic biological rhythms – modulate many aspects of human physiology and hence disruption of circadian rhythms may have an important impact on human health. Experimental work supports a potential link between irregular circadian rhythms and several key risk factors for cardiovascular disease including hypertension, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia, collectively termed the metabolic syndrome. While several epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between shift-work and the components of the metabolic syndrome in working-age adults, there is a relative paucity of data concerning the impact of non-occupational circadian irregularity in older women and men. To address this question, we studied 7 days of actigraphic data from 1137 older woman and men participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a community-based cohort study of the chronic conditions of aging. The regularity of activity rhythms was quantified using the nonparametric interdaily stability metric, and was related to the metabolic syndrome and its components obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. More regular activity rhythms were associated with a lower odds of having the metabolic syndrome (OR?=?0.69, 95% CI?=?0.60–0.80, p?=?5.8?×?10^?7), being obese (OR?=?0.73, 95% CI?=?0.63–0.85, p?=?2.5?×?10^?5), diabetic (OR?=?0.76, 95% CI?=?0.65–0.90, p?=?9.3?×?10^?4), hypertensive (OR?=?0.78, 95% CI?=?0.66–0.91, p?=?2.0?×?10^?3) or dyslipidemic (OR?=?0.82, 95% CI?=?0.72–0.92, p?=?1.2?×?10^?3). These associations were independent of differences in objectively measured total daily physical activity or rest, and were not accounted for by prevalent coronary artery disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease. Moreover, more regular activity rhythms were associated with lower odds of having cardiovascular disease (OR?=?0.83; 95% CI?=?0.73–0.95, p?=?5.7?×?10^?3), an effect that was statistically mediated by the metabolic syndrome. We conclude that irregular activity rhythms are associated with several key components of the metabolic syndrome in older community-dwelling adults, and that the metabolic syndrome statistically partially mediates the association between activity rhythms and prevalent cardiovascular disease. Although additional longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to conclusively delineate the causal relationships underlying these associations, these findings are consistent with preclinical data, and add further support for investigations of the irregularity of activity rhythms as a potential therapeutic target to decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease in older adults.     

Stomatal length and frequency as a measure of ploidy level in black wattle, Acacia mearnsii (de Wild)

The length and frequency of stomata on leaf surfaces were examined as rapid techniques for future identification of ploidy level of Acacia mearnsii (de Wild). Diploid (2 n  = 2 x  = 26) and tetraploid (2 n  = 4 x  = 52) plants were germinated from chipped seed at 25°C and grown under nursery conditions. After one month, measurements showed that the mean stomatal length was 27.17 ± 0.474 µm for diploids and 40.24 ± 0.521 µm for tetraploids and these differed significantly from each other ( P  < 0.001). The frequency of stomata per leaf surface was shown to decrease significantly ( P  < 0.001) as the ploidy level increased, with a mean of 22.11 ± 0.495 for diploids and 10.26 ± 0.495 for tetraploids. It was concluded that stomatal length and stomatal frequency are rapid indirect methods to identify ploidy level in black wattle.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 177–181.     

花楸属3种植物的基因组大小与叶气孔特征分析

以糍粑沟花楸(Sorbus cibagouensis H.Peng&Z.J.Yin)、大理花楸(S.hypoglauca(Cardot)Hand.-Mazz.)和川滇花楸(S.vilmorinii C.K.Schneid.)为材料,采用流式细胞术对其基因组大小及倍性进行检测分析,同时应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对其气孔特征进行观察。结果显示,3种花楸属植物的基因组大小和倍性、气孔特征均存在一定差异。糍粑沟花楸、大理花楸和川滇花楸的基因组大小分别为:(1.480±0.039)pg、(1.513±0.041)pg、(2.675±0.065)pg,在此基础上推断糍粑沟花楸和大理花楸为二倍体、川滇花楸为四倍体植物。显微镜观测发现:3种花楸属植物的气孔器均分布于叶的下表皮,气孔不下陷,保卫细胞无“T”型加厚结构,气孔类型为无规则形;糍粑沟花楸和川滇花楸的气孔器外拱盖光滑,而大理花楸气孔器外拱盖具有短棒状蜡质纹饰;3种植物的气孔器大小存在极显著差异。研究结果表明花楸属植物的基因组大小与倍性呈显著正相关,可用于推断植物的倍性;而气孔器大小和密度与倍性的相关性不大,但气孔特性在种间变化显著,可为种的鉴定提供科学的理论依据。     

Morphological characteristics of leaf epidermis and size variation of leaf, flower and fruit in different ploidy levels in Buddleja macrostachya (Buddlejaceae)

Buddleja macrostachya (Buddlejaceae) is a widespread shrub native to the Sino-Himalayan mountains and beyond. It has been found to occur at two ploidy levels, hexaploid, 2n=6x=114 and dodecaploid, 2n=12x=228. To determine if morphological characters might be used as indicators of ploidy levels, we measured floral and fruit length, relative and absolute leaf size, trichome density on both leaf surfaces, and stomatal density and length in different populations of B. macrostachya. In general, flower and fruit length, absolute leaf size, and stomatal length increased with an increase at ploidy level (P<0.01), whereas adaxial cell and stomatal density decreased with an increase at ploidy level (P<0.01). We found no conspicuous differences in relative leaf size (P>0.05) in different populations. Other characters studied such as trichome type, cuticular membrane and ornamentation of stomata, cell and stomatal shape, and anticlinal wall pattern were quite constant in this species. Thus it appears that flower and fruit length, absolute leaf size, and stomatal frequency and length can be used to distinguish hexaploid from dodecaploid cytotypes either in the field or in herbarium specimens.     

Stomatal density and stomatal index as indicators of paleoatmospheric CO(2) concentration

A growing number of studies use the plant species-specific inverse relationship between atmospheric CO(2) concentration and stomatal density (SD) or stomatal index (SI) as a proxy for paleo-CO(2) levels. A total of 285 previously published SD and 145 SI responses to variable CO(2) concentrations from a pool of 176 C(3) plant species are analyzed here to test the reliability of this method. The percentage of responses inversely responding to CO(2) rises from 40 and 36% (for SD and SI, respectively) in experimental studies to 88 and 94% (for SD and SI, respectively) in fossil studies. The inconsistent experimental responses verify previous concerns involving this method, however the high percentage of fossil responses showing an inverse relationship clearly validates the method when applied over time scales of similar length. Furthermore, for all groups of observations, a positive relationship between CO(2) and SD/SI is found in only 相似文献   

The CO(2) response of Vicia guard cells acclimates to growth environment

Stomata of growth chamber-grown Vicia faba leaves have an enhanced CO(2) response, measured as change in stomatal aperture, compared to stomata of greenhouse-grown leaves. Reciprocal transfer experiments showed that the stomatal response to CO(2) acclimated to the growing environment. Stomata of growth chamber-grown leaves transferred to a greenhouse lost their high CO(2) sensitivity within 2-3 d while stomata of greenhouse-grown leaves transferred to a growth chamber acquired a high CO(2) sensitivity within 5-7 d. Experiments measuring the CO(2) responses of stomata in detached epidermis showed that growth chamber and greenhouse-grown stomata have the same contrasting CO(2) sensitivity observed in the intact leaf, indicating that the responses reflect intrinsic guard cell properties. The acclimation properties of the CO(2) response of guard cells have implications for the understanding of stomatal function under the predicted increases in atmospheric CO(2).     

麦冬、土麦冬和阔叶土麦冬叶表皮形态结构的观察

用光镜和扫描电镜观察了麦冬（Ophiopogon japonicus（L．f）Ker—Gawl.]、土麦冬（Liriope spicata Lour．）和阔叶土麦冬（L．platyphylla Wanget Tang）叶表皮显微结构、亚显微结构和角质层内表面的形态结构。结果表明,气孔主要分布于麦冬、土麦冬和阔叶土麦冬叶片的下表皮,气孔密度分别为76．4、114．3和99．8个·mm^-2;仅阔叶土麦冬叶片上表皮有少量气孔分布。3种植物的气孔器均不具有副卫细胞,并在叶脉间形成纵向气孔带。表皮细胞长方形,气孔带与非气孔带处表皮细胞的形态和大小差异较明显。麦冬气孔周围的表皮细胞平周壁具明显瘤状突起,导致气孔下陷;土麦冬气孔周围的表皮细胞平周壁呈波浪状突起,使气孔相对下陷;阔叶土麦冬气孔周围的表皮细胞平周壁基本无突起,气孔不下陷。3种植物的叶表皮均有发达的角质层和丰富的蜡质,且蜡质主要分布于下表皮气孔带处。这些结构特征可能与它们所具有的喜阳、耐阴和耐旱等特性有一定的相关性。     

云南腾冲新近纪两种被子植物化石的角质层构造及其古环境意义

重点描述云南腾冲晚第三纪两种被子植物化石Betula mioluminifera Hu et Chaney,Carpinus subcordata Nathorst的角质层构造,并分析它们的现存最近亲缘种B.luminifera Winkler和C.cordata B1.var.mollis Cheng et Chen的表皮特征。实验分析证明：化石叶片的气孔参数可以推测地质历史时期大气CO2的浓度,并进而分析古环境的变化。C．subcordata Nathorst叶片能作为大气CO2浓度的生物指标。     

Evolutional trends of leaf stomatal and photosynthetic characteristics in wheat evolutions

According to the evolutional relationships among wheat varieties, 21 wheat varieties were chosen as research materials in this experiment to determine the evolutional trends of stomatal and photosynthetic characteristics. The results showed that as ploidy increased, the stomatal length, width, perimeter and area were found to increase. The stomatal density was found to decrease in A, B, D genomes, while no differences were found in stomatal indices among ploidies, indicating that the stomata became larger, but were still less in evolution progress. The Diploidy had the highest Pn, which was less in Tetraploidy, and the least in Hexaploidy. On the contrary, the Hexaploidy had the highest value in Fv/Fm, and the Diploidy had the highest chlorophyll content. The net photosynthetic rate had significant correlation with stomatal conductivity, while no significant relationship was found between stomatal conductivity and any stomatal characteristics, indicating that the stomatal conductivity is one of the factors limiting the photosynthetic rate, while the single stomatal characteristics is not the reason inducing the change in photosynthetic rate. The stomatal density showed significant differences among ploidy materials in A, B, D genomes, and the trend of genotype was in order of 2n > 4n > 6n; the stomatal length, width, perimeter and area showed significant differences among ploidy materials, and the trend of genotype was in order of 6n > 4n > 2n. The results indicated that the low density might induce low conductivity and low photosynthetic ability in Hexaploidy. Furthermore, the Diploidy had higher value in chlorophyll content of flag leaf area among ploidy materials in A, B and D genomes, indicating that higher chlorophyll content might be the reason for higher photosynthetic ability in Diploid wheat species.     

Leaf epidermal characters related with plant's passive resistance to pathogens vary among accessions of wild beans Phaseolus vulgaris var. aborigineus (Leguminosae–Phaseoleae)

We report here whether accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris var. aborigineus, collected from the southernmost part of the Andean domestication center of common bean, presented differences among leaf epidermal characters. Epidermal microcharacters such as deposition of wax crystalloids, cuticle thickness, trichome types, size and density, stomata types and size, stomatal density and index were examined on the surface of 66 leaves of 11 accessions of P. vulgaris var. aborigineus by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. Unlike the leaves of cultivated beans, those of P. vulgaris var. aborigineus were hypostomatous. Among epidermal characters only the stomatal density, stomatal index, and the number of trichomes on the abaxial leaf epidermis were different between bean accessions. The stomatal density and index of the accessions were inversely related to the altitude of the area of the wild bean collection. This is the first report describing the presence of diversity among epidermal characters (e.g. hypostomatous leaves) in P. vulgaris var. aborigineus that might contribute to plant resistance to pathogens.     

Field Studies of the Wheat Stomata Resistance Influenced by Soil Water Content

Concurrent observations of soil water potential and leaf stomata diffusion resistance were made on two, plots of wheat grown at Datun Agro-ecological Experimental Station in Beijing under two different soil water conditions. These data were further complemented by weather and physiological observation. In this paper, we mainly analysed the influence of soil water potential on the status of wheat leaf stomatal resistance. The results indicate that: (1) there is a obvious influence of soil water potential on the status of wheat leaf stomata under normal conditions and (2) there is a different upper and lower epidermis stomata of wheat leaf respond to the soil water potential. The lower epidermis stomata are more sensitive to soil water potential than upper epidermis one. (3) There is a linear relationship between the ratio of lower and upper epidermis stomata resistance and soil water potential in root layer, according to this we can diagnose the degree of wheat water deficit.     

FISH-aimed karyotype analysis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aconitum</Emphasis> subgen. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aconitum</Emphasis> reveals excessive rDNA sites in tetraploid taxa

The location of 5S and 35S rDNA sequences in chromosomes of four Aconitum subsp. Aconitum species was analyzed after fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Both in diploids (2n?=?2x?=?16; Aconitum variegatum, A. degenii) and tetraploids (2n?=?4×?=?32; A. firmum, A. plicatum), rDNA repeats were localized exclusively on the shorter arms of chromosomes, in subterminal or pericentromeric sites. All analyzed species showed similar basal genome size (Cx?=?5.31–5.71 pg). The most striking features of tetraploid karyotypes were the conservation of diploid rDNA loci and emergence of many additional 5S rDNA clusters. Chromosomal distribution of excessive ribosomal sites suggests their role in the secondary diploidization of tetraploid karyotypes.     

Associations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CTLA4</Emphasis> +49 A/G Dimorphism and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* Alleles With Type 1 Diabetes from South India

The aim of present study was to elucidate the association of CTLA4 +49 A/G and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* gene polymorphism in south Indian T1DM patients. The patients and controls (n?=?196 each) were enrolled for CTLA4 and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* genotyping by RFLP/PCR-SSP methods. The increased frequencies of CTLA4 ‘AG’ (OR?=?1.99; p?=?0.001), ‘GG’ (OR?=?3.94; p?=?0.001) genotypes, and ‘G’ allele (OR?=?2.42; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) were observed in patients. Reduced frequencies of ‘AA’ (OR?=?0.35; p?=?7.19?×?10^?7) and ‘A’ (OR?=?0.41; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) in patients revealed protective association. Among HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* alleles, DRB1*04 (OR?=?3.29; p?=?1.0?×?10^?5), DRB1*03 (OR?=?2.81; p?=?1.9?×?10^?6), DQB1*02:01 (OR?=?2.93; p?=?1.65?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02 (OR?=?3.38; p?=?0.0003), and DQB1*03:02 (OR?=?7.72; p?=?0.0003) were in susceptible association. Decreased frequencies of alleles, DRB1*15 (OR?=?0.32; p?=?2.55?×?10^?7), DRB1*10 (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.002), DQB1*06:01 (OR?=?0.43; p?=?0.0001), and DQB1*05:02 (OR?=?0.28; p?=?2.1?×?10^?4) in patients were suggested protective association. The combination of DRB1*03+AG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?1.4?×?10^?6), DRB1*04+AG (OR?=?2.14; p?=?0.053), DRB1*04+GG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?0.036), DQB1*02:01+AG (OR?=?4.44; p?=?3.6?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02+AG (OR?=?20.9; p?=?9.5?×?10^?4), and DQB1*02:02+GG (OR?=?4.06; p?=?0.036) revealed susceptible association. However, the combination of DRB1*10+AA (OR?=?0.35; p?=?0.003), DRB1*15+AA (OR?=?0.22; p?=?5.3?×?10^?7), DQB1*05:01+AA (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.007), DQB1*05:02+AA (OR?=?0.17; p?=?1.7?×?10^?4), DQB1*06:01+AA (OR?=?0.40; p?=?0.002), and DQB1*06:02+AG (OR?=?0.34; p?=?0.001) showed decreased frequency in patients, suggesting protective association. In conclusion, CTLA4/HLA-DR/DQ genotypic combinations revealed strong susceptible/protective association toward T1DM in south India. A female preponderance in disease associations was also documented.     

Classical phenotyping and deep learning concur on genetic control of stomatal density and area in sorghum

Stomatal density (SD) and stomatal complex area (SCA) are important traits that regulate gas exchange and abiotic stress response in plants. Despite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) adaptation to arid conditions, the genetic potential of stomata-related traits remains unexplored due to challenges in available phenotyping methods. Hence, identifying loci that control stomatal traits is fundamental to designing strategies to breed sorghum with optimized stomatal regulation. We implemented both classical and deep learning methods to characterize genetic diversity in 311 grain sorghum accessions for stomatal traits at two different field environments. Nearly 12,000 images collected from abaxial (Ab) and adaxial (Ad) leaf surfaces revealed substantial variation in stomatal traits. Our study demonstrated significant accuracy between manual and deep learning methods in predicting SD and SCA. In sorghum, SD was 32%–39% greater on the Ab versus the Ad surface, while SCA on the Ab surface was 2%–5% smaller than on the Ad surface. Genome-Wide Association Study identified 71 genetic loci (38 were environment-specific) with significant genotype to phenotype associations for stomatal traits. Putative causal genes underlying the phenotypic variation were identified. Accessions with similar SCA but carrying contrasting haplotypes for SD were tested for stomatal conductance and carbon assimilation under field conditions. Our findings provide a foundation for further studies on the genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling stomata patterning and regulation in sorghum. An integrated physiological, deep learning, and genomic approach allowed us to unravel the genetic control of natural variation in stomata traits in sorghum, which can be applied to other plants.

High-throughput phenotyping using deep learning tools integrated with genome-wide association studies revealed genes that control SD and area in grain sorghum.     

Sterols are required for cell‐fate commitment and maintenance of the stomatal lineage in Arabidopsis

Asymmetric cell division is important for regulating cell proliferation and fate determination during stomatal development in plants. Although genes that control asymmetric division and cell differentiation in stomatal development have been reported, regulators controlling the process from asymmetric division to cell differentiation remain poorly understood. Here, we report a weak allele (fk–J3158) of the Arabidopsis sterol C–14 reductase gene FACKEL (FK) that shows clusters of small cells and stomata in leaf epidermis, a common phenomenon that is often seen in mutants defective in stomatal asymmetric division. Interestingly, the physical asymmetry of these divisions appeared to be intact in fk mutants, but the cell‐fate asymmetry was greatly disturbed, suggesting that the FK pathway links these two crucial events in the process of asymmetric division. Sterol profile analysis revealed that the fk–J3158 mutation blocked downstream sterol production. Further investigation indicated that cyclopropylsterol isomerase1 (cpi1), sterol 14α–demethylase (cyp51A2) and hydra1 (hyd1) mutants, corresponding to enzymes in the same branch of the sterol biosynthetic pathway, displayed defective stomatal development phenotypes, similar to those observed for fk. Fenpropimorph, an inhibitor of the FK sterol C–14 reductase in Arabidopsis, also caused these abnormal small‐cell and stomata phenotypes in wild‐type leaves. Genetic experiments demonstrated that sterol biosynthesis is required for correct stomatal patterning, probably through an additional signaling pathway that has yet to be defined. Detailed analyses of time‐lapse cell division patterns, stomatal precursor cell division markers and DNA ploidy suggest that sterols are required to properly restrict cell proliferation, asymmetric fate specification, cell‐fate commitment and maintenance in the stomatal lineage cells. These events occur after physical asymmetric division of stomatal precursor cells.