A. B. Cousins

Differences in stomatal sensitivity to COC2 and light influences variation in water use efficiency and leaf carbon isotope composition in two genotypes of the C4 plant Zea mays.

Probing the in-situ volumes of Arabidopsis leaf plastids using 3D confocal and scanning electron microscopy

The paper develops and compares three methods to measure in situ volumes of Arabidopsis leaf plastids using microscopy techniques and mutant lines, finding average volumes of 93 µm³ for mesophyll chloroplasts and 18 µm³ for guard cell plastids.

Altered cell wall hydroxycinnamate composition impacts leaf and canopy-level CO2-uptake and water-use in rice

This study shows that altering hydroxycinnamic acid content in rice cell walls increases mesophyll conductance and photosynthesis but does not improve water-use efficiency due to increased stomatal conductance.

Mesophyll conductance response to short-term changes in pCO2 is related to leaf anatomy and biochemistry in diverse C4 grasses

This study examines how mesophyll conductance (gm) in C4 grasses responds to short-term CO2 changes and links this response to leaf anatomy and biochemistry.

Leaf cell wall properties and stomatal density influence oxygen isotope enrichment of leaf water

The paper evaluates how cell wall composition and stomatal density affect oxygen isotope enrichment in leaf water by testing mutants under different light and humidity conditions.

The maize Aliphatic Suberin Feruloyl Transferase genes affect leaf water movement but are dispensable for bundle sheath CO2 concentration

This study shows that maize ZmAsft genes are not essential for CO2 concentration in bundle sheath cells but affect leaf water movement and cell wall properties.

A role for neutral variation in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis

The paper shows natural variation in C4 enzyme expression in Arabidopsis and demonstrates that high C4 enzyme expression is neutral in rice, supporting the role of neutral variation in C4 photosynthesis evolution.

The Genetic Architecture of Leaf Stable Carbon Isotope Composition in Zea mays and the Effect of Transpiration Efficiency on Elemental Accumulation

This study identifies genetic factors influencing leaf δ13C in maize and finds no strong link between δ13C and specific leaf area or nutrient accumulation.

Trait components of whole plant water use efficiency are defined by unique, environmentally responsive genetic signatures in the model C4 grass Setaria

This study identifies heritable genetic signatures affecting water use efficiency in Setaria by analyzing plant size, water use, and their relationship under different watering conditions.