Fig. 5: Light micrographs of petioles in the NO-treated rudimentary leaves of ‘Nuomici’ litchi.

The leaf petioles were collected in 0 d a-c, 1 d d-f, 3 g-i, 5 j-l, 7 m-o, and 9 d p-r after sodium nitroprusside (SNP) treatment. Micrographs in the second column are enlarged images of the upper part of the black rectangular regions marked in the same line of the first column. Micrographs in the third column are enlarged images of the lower part of the black rectangular regions marked in the same line of the first column. Black arrows are longitudinal splitting cortical cells. Red rectangular regions are cell separation area in AZ. Ax axillary bud, Co cortex, Sc swollen cell, Pe petiole, St stem