Stomatal density and aperture length in four plant species grown across a subambient CO₂ gradient

Abstract

Stomatal density, stomatal aperture length, area/leaf, and number of stomata/leaf were measured after the annual C3 agronomic grasses oats (Avena sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), the C, woody legume honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and the perennial C4 grass little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) were grown across a subambient carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) gradient from near 200 to 350 μmol/mol in a growth chamber. The purpose was to determine if the size and density of stomata vary in response to atmospheric [CO2] during growth, across a subambient [CO2] range representative of the doubling that has occurred since the last ice age. Changes in stomatal density and aperture length with increasing [CO2] were small when detected. Stomatal density decreased on adaxial flag leaf surfaces of wheat, and aperture length increased slightly with [CO2], Leaf area and number of stomata/flag leaf increased by similar proportions with [CO2] in two wheat cultivars. No consistent relationship between [CO2] and stomatal density or size was detected in mesquite, oats, or little bluestem. We conclude that individual plants of these species lack the plasticity to significantly alter stomatal density and aperture length in response to increasing atmospheric [CO2] in a single generation (annuals) or growing season (perennials).

Genome duplication and the evolution of physiological responses to water stress

“…The surface area (cm 2 ) of each sampled ovate leaf was calculated as the product of its maximum length and width. We measured stomatal length on the nail polish impression as the average distance in μm between the junctions of the guard cells (Malone et al. , 1993; Maherali et al.…”

Stomatal factors and vulnerability of stem xylem to cavitation in poplars

“…The films were viewed and photographed using the electron photomicroscope system (Zeiss Axioskop 40, Carl Zeiss Inc., Oberkochen, Germany). Stomatal length was measured between the junctions of the guard cells (Malone et al 1993). For each leaf, four fields‐of‐view per slide were averaged for each slide to estimate stomatal density and length.…”

WATER STRESS ALTERS THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF FUNCTIONAL TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH DROUGHT ADAPTATION INAVENA BARBATA

“…To measure stomatal length and density, we made a mould of the adaxial and abaxial surface of a leaf for each individual using polyvinylsiloxane dental impression material (‘Extrude’ Medium; Kerr Manufacturing Co., Orange, CA) and used the hardened mould as a cast for clear nail polish. We measured stomatal length on the nail polish impression as the average distance in micrometers between the junctions of the guard cells (Malone et al 1993; Maherali et al 2002) for a total of eight stomates per leaf side. We measured stomatal density on the nail polish impression as the average number of stomates in two, 1‐mm 2 viewing areas per leaf side.…”