I.
Introduction
Leaves constitute the basic organ of photosynthesis. They
are central to the life strategy of the plant and are the eventual
source of most food on the planet. An understanding of
the processes underlying leaf development thus provides
an insight into a basic process in biology, modulation of which
may have far-reaching significance on strategies to improve
crop performance.
This review will focus on our knowledge of the molecular
processes controlling leaf development, highlight aspects
where our understanding is limited and, in the spirit of
the Tansley review series, attempt to integrate at least some
of this knowledge into a working model of leaf development.