Fig. 8: Proposed model of chloroplast clusters, stomatal development, and leaf maturity in cacao.
From: Spatial patterning of chloroplasts and stomata in developing cacao leaves
a Scanned images of early-stage cacao leaves (Stages A and B). b A scanned image of a Stage C cacao leaf (leaf 3) was used in this study. c Heatmap depicting leaf greenness intensity, with darker shades representing higher chlorophyll content (green intensity: 0 = maximum, 255 = minimum). d Hypothetical illustration of the developmental sequence of chloroplast clusters and stomata in a Stage C cacao leaf, based on the spatial variation of their morphological features. The increasing green pigmentation towards the leaf base suggests an acropetal leaf development process, likely interconnected with vein development and the transport of resources through the midrib. e Scanned image of a Stage D leaf. Scale bars = 1 cm.
