by Meidner H., Mansfield T. A. (1968)
Hans Meidner, Reader, Department of Horticulture, University of Reading
T. A. Mansfield, Lecturer. Department of Biological Sciences. University of Lancaster
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In Physiology of stomata – New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. –
Preface
The stomatal apparatus and the mechanism of its operation are usually dealt with in connection with transpiration and photosynthesis, because both these processes are to a considerable extent controlled by the stomata. However, stomatal responses to various stimuli are so complex that the physiology of the stomata might well be treated as a subject in its own right, and we have tried, therefore, to bring together in this book the important known facts about the .fJIC\…<‘.i1nnTt=SiIT (fl’ ~’tI.JJ.Ttat(fI’ iiW9errte.L1’t:)’. Stomatal morphology, the technology of stomatal investigations, and the physical aspects of diffusion through stomata are so generally agreed upon that we have been able to present these, in chapters 1 to 3, in textbook fashion, although we have taken care to direct the reader to the original research papers upon which we have based our statements. On the other hand, knowledge is less complete about the responses of stomata to stimuli, their rhythms and oscillations, and the biochemical changes that constitute the mechanisms behind the movements; consequently, in dealing with these subjects in chapters 4 to 7, we discuss the available experimental results, the hypotheses
that have been formulated on this evidence, and the conflicting
evidence that questions the validity of the various hypotheses. On
these topics we have deliberately presented the evidence as a survey
of the experimental results with as many attempts at synthesis t~wards
a generally valid hypothesis as appeared permissible.
The theoretical study of any subject matter gains much from
experimental work and, therefore, we have included an appendIX with
some suggestions for practical work on stomata. Experiments on
stomata have a place in ceurses on general plant physiology, and
teachers as well as students may find here some new and useful
suggestions.
The renewed interest in stomatal physiology during recent years has
been partly directed towards finding ways and means of imposing on
stomata, especially those of crop plants, artificial controls that would
reduce transpirational water loss without seriously reducing photosynthetic yield. For the pursuance of such an aim a thorough understanding of stomatal physiology is essential, and we hope that this
bringing together of the important information on stomata will help
students and research workers. If this book contributes to a better
understanding of this complex subject matter by stimulating further
research into the physiology of stomata we shall have achieved our
purpose.
Contents
Chapter 1 MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF STOMATAL CELLS
1.1 The occurrence of stomata in the plant
kingdom 1
1.2 The differentiation of stomata 6
1.3 Dimensions and structure of guard cells 10
1.4 The mechanism of guard cell movement 14
1.5 The contents of guard cells 18
1.6 Properties and functions of subsidiary cells 22
1.7 Modifications of the stomatal apparatus with
habitat 23
Chapter 2 THE MEASUREMENT OF STOMATAL APERTURE 26
2.1 The choice of plant material 27
2.2 Microscopic measuring techniques 29
2.3 Macroscopic measuring techniques 31
2.4 Viscous flow porometers 32
2.5 Diffusive flow porometers 42
Chapter 3 THE THEORY OF DIFFUSION THROUGH STOMATA 49
3.1 The rate of diffusion of a gas 49
3.2 Details of the diffusion path between leaves
and the atmosphere 55
3.3 Stomatal control of transpiration 59
3.4 Stomatal control of photosynthesis 63
3.5 The experimental control of stomatal aperture 66
Chapter 4 STOMATAL RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 69
4.1 Light and carbon dioxide 70
4.2 Transmission of an opening or closing
stimulus 85
4.3 Temperature 87
4.4 Water supply 92
4.5 Relative humidity ofthe atmosphere 100
4.6 Interactions between environmental factors 101
Chapter S THE ROLE OF RHYTIIMSIN STOMATAL BEHAVIOUR 102
5.1 Endogenous rhythms 103
5.2 Night opening of stomata 109
5.3 Rhythms and the normal diurnal movements
of stomata 113
5.4 After-effects of environmental factors on
rhythms 113
5.S Stomatal behaviour in succulent plants 114
5.6 Short-period fluctuations 11&
Chapter 6 STOMATAL OPENING AND CLOSING REACTIONS
6.1 Sources of energy for stomatal movements
6.2 Dynamics of stomatal movements
119
119
128
6.3 Distinction between the maintenance and the
production of opening
6.4 Effects of temperature on opening and closing
movements
6.5 Ionic effects
Chapter 7 HYPOTHESES OLD AND NEW
7.1 The glycollate hypothesis
xii 7.2 Dark carboxylation reactions
131
131
132
135
135
138
7.3 The role of starch? sugar interconversion 141 7.4 Permeability changes 145 7.5 Blue light effects 146 7.6 What next? 147 Appendix SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 150 A.I Observations and measurements on epidermal strips 150 A.2 Measuring stomatal aperture in intact leaves J <;4 A.3 Stomatal responses to stimuli 155 A.4 Experiments on gaseous diffusion 157 Bibliography Index 160 170
PLANT STOMATA ENCYCLOPEDIA 