**Preface to "Molecular Mechanisms of Leaf Morphogenesis"**

Leaf morphology is obviously determined in a plant. By contrast, its morphology is often changeable when the plant copes with various environmental changes. We can speculate that leaf morphogenesis is based on the regulatory mechanisms with remarkable robustness and flexibility. Recent research has increasingly investigated the regulatory network of leaf morphogenesis and revealed some important regulators functioning in the leaf development but not obtained its full view of the molecular mechanisms of leaf morphogenesis.

To update our understanding of the leaf morphogenesis, this book contains nine academic papers that focus on the regulation of genes, proteins, hormones, and other metabolites for leaf morphogenesis in various plant species. It further provides important insights in biochemical, developmental, evolutional, and physiological events operating during morphogenesis. Emphasis is also placed on the perspective views of how these molecular mechanisms contribute to the survival of plants and are applicable to improve plant traits. I hope readers will be fascinated and interested to find beautiful mechanisms in leaf morphogenesis.

> **Tomotsugu Koyama** *Editor*
