Fig. 4

Bright-field microscopy of stem cross sections from the wild type, cse-2 mutant and the cse-2 proVND::CSE lines after Mäule staining. Compared to the wild type (a), cse-2 mutants (b) showed reduced staining, indicative of reduced lignin deposition, and irregularly shaped vessels (solid arrows). An intermediate staining intensity of xylem vessels was observed in cse-2 proVND7::CSE lines (c–f), with normal shaped vessels, except eventually for cse-2 proVND7::CSE#2. Vasculature morphology of cse-2 proVND6::CSE lines (g–i) resembled that of the cse-2 mutant. If: Interfascicular fibers; Xv: xylem vessels; Bar 50 µm.