To open or to close: species‐specific stomatal responses to simultaneously applied opposing environmental factors. Issue 2 (6th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merilo, Ebe; Jõesaar, Indrek; Brosché, Mikael; Kollist, Hannes
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 202:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 499
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06
• Subjects: Arabidopsis thaliana -- crosstalk -- environmental factors -- Hordeum vulgare -- Nicotiana tabacum -- stomata -- Thellungiella salsuginea -- Triticum aestivum; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12667
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

Summary: Plant stomatal responses to single environmental factors are well studied; however, responses to a change in two (or more) factors – a common situation in nature – have been less frequently addressed. We studied the stomatal responses to a simultaneous application of opposing environmental factors in six evolutionarily distant mono‐ and dicotyledonous herbs representing different life strategies (ruderals, competitors and stress‐tolerators) to clarify whether the crosstalk between opening‐ and closure‐inducing pathways leading to stomatal response is universal or species‐specific. Custom‐made gas exchange devices were used to study the stomatal responses to a simultaneous application of two opposing factors: decreased/increased CO2 concentration and light availability or reduced air humidity. The studied species responded similarly to changes in single environmental factors, but showed species‐specific and nonadditive responses to two simultaneously applied opposing factors. The stomata of the ruderals Arabidopsis thaliana and Thellungiella salsuginea (previously Thellungiella halophila ) always opened, whereas those of competitor‐ruderals either closed in all two‐factor combinations ( Triticum aestivum ), remained relatively unchanged ( Nicotiana tabacum ) or showed a response dominated by reduced air humidity ( Hordeum vulgare ). Our results, indicating that in changing environmental conditions species‐specific stomatal responses are evident that cannot be predicted from studying one factor at a time, might be interesting for stomatal modellers, too.