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Hydathodes of young, folded strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) leaves had unoccluded water pores With various sized apertures, as observed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Hydathodes of fully expanded leaves were brownish and the water pores within the hydathodes were covered with a solid material, presumably comprised of epicuticular waxes and substances excreted through the hydathodes. The entire water pore area of the hydathode was occasionally covered with a shield-like plate. The shield-like plate over the hydathode water pores impeded water flow even with an induced positive pressure. Mechanical scraping of the hydathode area eliminated impedance to water conduction. These observations suggest that external occlusion of water pores in the hydathodes is the resistance component associated with the absence of guttation in older strawberry leaves.