Table 3 Cell number per unit area in the first layer of palisade mesophyll cells of cotyledon and true leaf

  Cotyledon at 2 DAS

2130.82 ± 81.54^a (n = 17)

1991.53 ± 52.32^a (n = 17)

1930.67 ± 55.06^a (n = 18)

  Cotyledon at 4 DAS

152.12 ± 4.21^c (n = 17)

128.20 ± 5.75^b (n = 20)

111.63 ± 4.04^a (n = 19)

  Cotyledon at 6 DAS

111.16 ± 4.67^b (n = 19)

86.35 ± 2.64^a (n = 20)

86.85 ± 3.15^a (n = 20)

  1st and 2nd leaves at 10 DAS

186.59 ± 6.75^b (n = 17)

109.82 ± 3.83^a (n = 17)

121.81 ± 4.92^a (n = 16)

  1st and 2nd leaves at 12 DAS

119.61 ± 2.67^b (n = 18)

75.78 ± 2.39^a (n = 23)

82.06 ± 3.49^a (n = 17)

  1st and 2nd leaves at 14 DAS

81.32 ± 3.80^b (n = 19)

66.74 ± 2.25^a (n = 19)

62.17 ± 4.02^a (n = 18)