Changes in Photon Flux Can Induce Stomatal Patchiness

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Plant, Cell and Environment

Volume

19

Issue

9

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Publication Date

1996

First Page

1066

Last Page

1074

Abstract

Images of chlorophyll fluorescence were used to detect the occurrence of stomatal patchiness in leaves from eight species under variable photon flux conditions. Pronounced stomatal patchiness was induced within 5–10 min after PFD was changed from intermediate (∼450 μmol quanta m−2 s−1) to low (∼150 μmol quanta m−2 s−1) levels. This effect was completely reversible by returning PFD to intermediate levels. The pattern of heterogeneous fluorescence for each leaf was usually similar during repeated applications of medium and low PFD. In three species, stomatal patchiness could only be induced in slightly water-stressed plants. Leaves of more severely water-stressed Xanthium strumarium plants in low air humidity exhibited oscillations in fluorescence that corresponded with oscillatory changes in leaf diffusion conductance for water vapour. Stomatal patchiness was also induced by illuminating dark-adapted leaves with low PFD (below 200–300 μmol quanta m−2 s−1). Infiltration of leaves with distilled water showed that heterogeneous chlorophyll fluorescence was caused by changes in stomatal apertures.

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Originally published by Wiley-Blackwell. Publisher's PDF is available through remote link.

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