Leaf anatomical characteristics associated with shoot hydraulic conductance, stomatal conductance and stomatal sensitivity to changes of leaf water status in temperate deciduous trees

Abstract

Some anatomical characteristics in leaves relating to hydraulic conductance and stomatal conductance were examined in six temperate deciduous tree species. The fourth power of the radius of the conducting elements in xylem (r 4 ) and the area of mesophyll and epidermal cells per unit length of leaf cross-section (u) were high in leaves with high hydraulic conductance (L). Stomatal conductance (g s ) and stomatal sensitivity to an increase in leaf water potential (s i ) correlated positively with the length of stomatal pore (l), but negatively with the guard cell width (z) and the length of the dorsal side of the guard cells (l d ). Stomatal sensitivity to a decrease in leaf water potential (s d ) correlated negatively with l and positively with z and l d. The anatomical characteristics associated with hydraulic conductance (r 4 and u) and those associated with stomatal conductance and sensitivity to changes of leaf water potential (l, z and l d ) were correlated. We conclude that hydraulic conductance may depend on anatomical characteristics of xylem, mesophyll and epidermis, and stomatal conductance and its sensitivity to changing water potential may depend on anatomical characteristics of stomata. The correlation of shoot hydraulic conductance with stomatal conductance and its sensitivity may be based largely on the correlation between the anatomical characteristics of the water conducting system and stomata in these trees.

Grouping of anthurium genotypes based on genetic and morpho-anatomical features

“…In this study, A. raimundii and A. jemanii had larger stomata while in A. gracile, the stomata were smaller. Larger stomata are usually associated with mesophytic environments, allowing a higher consumption of water (Galmes et al 2007), and smaller stomata would be found in xeric environments, providing a better water control (Aasamaa et at. 2001).…”

Mechanistic examination of causes for narrow distribution in an endangered shrub: a comparison of its responses to drought stress with a widespread congeneric species

“…Smaller stomata can open and close more rapidly than larger ones (Aasamaa et al, 2001). Our results of higher water transpiration loss found in the narrowly-spread species relative to the widespread species imply that S. pinnatifolia may not have the capacity to adequately regulate stomatal opening because of the larger-size stomata.…”

Effect of Flooding on Stomatal Density and Stomatal Length in Six Sugarcane Genotypes.

“…Some studies carried out by Aasamaa et al (2001), showed that the stoma size has a big importance in the response, when inverse correlations are found between conditions of drought and the stomatal length.…”

“…On the other hand, it allows high photosynthetic rates with the stomata closed due to the high match for the CO 2 of the enzyme phosphoenol piruvate carboxilase (Tadeo, 2000). Small stomata, can open up and close more quickly and are associate generally to high stomatal density (Aasamaa et al, 2001), they provide to the plant the capacity of increasing the stomatal conductance of the leaf quickly, maximizing the interior diffusion of the C0 2 during favorable conditions for the photosynthesis.…”