Final answer:
The a. -I layer is likely mutated in a variegated monocot plant with white edges on the leaves, as it gives rise to the epidermal tissues affecting pigmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you have a variegated monocot plant where only the very edge of the leaf is white, the layer that is most likely mutated would be the L-I layer. This outermost layer of cells, known as the L1 layer in the plant meristem, gives rise to epidermal tissues, which includes the outermost part of the leaf where the variegation occurs. Thus, a mutation in this layer would affect the pigmentation seen on the periphery of the leaf.
The variegated monocot plant with only the very edge of the leaf being white indicates a mutation in layer L-I, which is the dermal layer of the leaf.
In plants, the dermal layer is responsible for protecting the plant from external factors like pathogens and dehydration. It usually consists of a single layer of cells called the epidermis.
In the case of the variegated monocot plant, the mutation in the dermal layer results in the loss of pigment production in that specific region of the leaf, leading to the white coloration at the edge.