A positive correlation between stomatal density and the light intensity

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Lavandula angustifolia

 

The effect of light intensity on the stomatal density of lavender, Lavandula angustifolia

by Petrova Y. (2012)

Yoana Petrova, City of Bristol College, Bristol, UK.

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in Young Scientists Journal 2012(12): 89-93 –

https://www.ysjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/Issue12/The-effect-of-light-intensity-on-the-stomatal-density-of-lavender-Lavandula-angustifolia.pdf

Abstract

The first aim of this investigation was to find whether there is a significant correlation between the stomatal density of lavender plants and the light intensity under which they are grown. The second aim of the investigation was to find out whether the initial height of the plant influences its stomatal density.

Cuttings were taken from lavender plants to ensure that all the plants were genetically identical and that the only changes occurring in the stomatal density would be due to environmental conditions. Four cuttings were short (3 cm initial height) and four were tall (6 cm initial height). The cuttings were put under compact fluorescent light bulbs with four different power ratings (8, 11, 14, and 20 W). One short and one tall cutting were put under each of the four light bulbs for 28 days in order to grow them.

Both the short and the tall plants showed a positive correlation between their stomatal densities and the light intensity. The correlation was statistically significant at a 0.025 significance level according to the Pearson productmoment correlation test. The short and the tall plants grown under the same light intensity did not show any statistically significant difference between their stomatal densities.