When a mustard plant seedling is transferred to an environment with higher levels of carbon dioxide, the new leaves have a lower stomata-to-surface-area ratio than do the seedling's original leaves.
Which of the following best explains how the leaves from the same plant can have different stomatal densities when exposed to an elevated carbon dioxide level?
A) Increased photosynthesis leads to larger leaves that need more stomata for photosynthesis, leading to an increase in
stomatal density.
B) Leaf growth is promoted through increased photosynthesis, but the genetically regulated rate of stomatal production is not altered, leading to a decrease in stomatal density.
C) Leaf growth is inhibited by decreased photosynthesis, and the genetically regulated rate of stomatal production remains the same, leading to an increase in stomatal density.
D) Leaf growth is inhibited by decreased photosynthesis, and the genetically regulated rate of stomatal production
remains the same, leading to a decrease in stomatal density.