Leaf primordia microdomains from the Zea mays subsp. mays, P4 primordium collected by laser microdissection

A mature maize leaf is made of three compartments, 1) photosynthetic blade, 2) supportive sheath, 3) and a hinge-like auricle/ligule region in between. Although these mature tissues have distinct shapes and functions, they start off as a undifferentiated mass of leaf stem cell initials. In this study, we examine the transcriptomes of different microdomains of a developing leaf before any known cues of blade, sheath, or auricle/ligule have appeared. We collected these tissues by using a laser-capture microdissection microscope, allowing incredible precision in dividing up these microdomians.