THE MESOPHYLL LAYER OF A LEAF CONSISTS OF

• A. wax and cutin
• B. cells with lignified walls
• C. irregularly shaped collenchyma cells
• D. photosynthetic parenchyma cells ✓

The mesophyll layer of a leaf consists of photosynthetic parenchyma cells. These cells are responsible for carrying out photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy. The mesophyll layer is located between the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf and is where most of the photosynthetic activity takes place.

Photosynthetic parenchyma cells are specialized plant cells that contain chloroplasts, the organelles responsible for photosynthesis. These cells have a high concentration of chlorophyll, the pigment that captures sunlight and initiates the process of photosynthesis. The mesophyll layer typically contains two types of photosynthetic parenchyma cells: palisade parenchyma cells, which are tightly packed together near the upper epidermis for maximum light absorption, and spongy parenchyma cells, which are more loosely arranged to allow for gas exchange.

In summary, the mesophyll layer of a leaf primarily consists of photosynthetic parenchyma cells that play a crucial role in capturing sunlight and converting it into energy through the process of photosynthesis.