Quantitative measurements of hexokinase activity in the shoot apical meristem, leaf primordia, and leaf tissues of Dianthus chinensis L

Hexokinase was measured by quantitative histochemical techniques in the apical meristem, primordia, and leaves of Dianthus chinensis L. The structural stages of development in the leaves sampled were determined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that activity decreased from the youngest primordia (1500 millimoles per kilogram dry weight per hour) to the mature leaves (200 millimoles per kilogram dry weight per hour) and that an intermediate leaf, the fourth youngest, showed the same declining pattern from its base to its tip. Surface views and measurements of these leaves revealed their basipetal maturation as seen by cell size, stomatal development, trichome differentiation, cuticular appearance, and leaf thickness. The intermediate leaf showed features representative of several stages in structural differentiation. It was concluded that the changes in hexokinase activity among the leaves of a shoot and within an individual leaf are similar and correlate with the degree of structural differentiation of the leaves.