Barley leaf structure discovery could revolutionize agriculture and crop yields!
The leaf veins in barley plants have different sizes and structures as they go from the tip to the stem. Some veins start small and become larger as they reach the stem. Others stay small and connect with other veins above the leaf base. Even though fewer veins enter the leaf base, the total area for transporting nutrients increases. The wider the leaf, the more veins it has. The size of the veins is related to the size of the tubes that transport nutrients.