A role for the cuticular waxes in the environmental control of stomatal development

The mechanism of guard cell development is currently attracting much interest. The recent use of Arabidopsis mutant plants has shed new light on the pathways that regulate the development and patterning of specialized cells such as guard cells, trichomes and roots hairs within the plant epidermis. Here, we review this literature focusing on the insights provided into guard cell development. We also discuss our current knowledge of how environmental variables may impact on guard cell development and, in particular, consider whether the composition of the epidermal waxes may be involved in this process. (C) New Phytologist (2002) 153: 433-439.