Academic literature on the topic 'Stomatal; Gas exchange'

In tropical forests, different physiological characteristics of leaves in tree species are evidenced by variations in different incident light conditions. We aim to evaluate gas exchange and organization of leaf vascular system in Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. seedlings under different light conditions. Seedlings were obtained from seeds germinated under greenhouse conditions with controlled environment. Ninety days after germination, seedlings in 8kg pots were transferred to the experimental site to allow acclimatization under sun and shade conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments: full sunlight and artificial shading, limiting the luminosity to about 5% of irradiance. Seedlings were maintained under these conditions for 120 days before measuring gas exchange parameters. We measured photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, sub-stomatic CO2 concentration, transpiration, and chlorophyll content. Anatomical analysis measured distance between veins, distance from veins to abaxial epidermis, distance from veins to adaxial epidermis, distance from veins to stomata, total leaf thickness, abaxial epidermis thickness, adaxial epidermis thickness, palisade parenchyma thickness, and spongy parenchyma thickness of foliar gas exchange of G. ulmifolia which presented significant differences between light environments. Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were reduced by 78% and 39%, respectively, in shade, while stomatal conductance increased by 31% in full sunlight. Transpiration showed no significant difference between the two treatments, but chlorophyll content was 30% lower in full sunlight. Distance between veins and distance from veins to stomata showed no difference between treatments, but the other parameters increased in full sunlight. Thus, the results showed that the pioneer species G. ulmifolia presented leaf gas exchange acclimated to environments with high luminosity.

Plants have evolved developmental plasticity which allows the up- or down-regulation of photosynthetic and water loss capacities as new leaves emerge. This developmental plasticity enables plants to maximise fitness and to survive under differing environments. Stomata play a pivotal role in this adaptive process. These microscopic pores in the epidermis of leaves control gas exchange between the plant and its surrounding environment. Stomatal development involves regulated cell fate decisions that ensure optimal stomatal density and spacing, enabling efficient gas exchange. The cellular patterning process is regulated by a complex signalling pathway involving extracellular ligand–receptor interactions, which, in turn, modulate the activity of three master transcription factors essential for the formation of stomata. Here, we review the current understanding of the biochemical interactions between the epidermal patterning factor ligands and the ERECTA family of leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases. We discuss how this leads to activation of a kinase cascade, regulation of the bHLH transcription factor SPEECHLESS and its relatives, and ultimately alters stomatal production.

Stomata in the plant epidermis play a critical role in growth and survival by controlling gas exchange, transpiration, and immunity to pathogens. Plants modulate stomatal cell fate and patterning through key transcriptional factors and signaling pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to contribute to developmental plasticity in multicellular organisms; however, no miRNAs appear to target the known regulators of stomatal development. It remains unclear as to whether miRNAs are involved in stomatal development. Here, we report highly dynamic, developmentally stage-specific miRNA expression profiles from stomatal lineage cells. We demonstrate that stomatal lineage miRNAs positively and negatively regulate stomatal formation and patterning to avoid clustered stomata. Target prediction of stomatal lineage miRNAs implicates potential cellular processes in stomatal development. We show that miR399-mediatedPHO2regulation, involved in phosphate homeostasis, contributes to the control of stomatal development. Our study demonstrates that miRNAs constitute a critical component in the regulatory mechanisms controlling stomatal development.

This study demonstrates that thermal image analysis can be used to localize stomatal opening and closing on leaves of apple, and cherry. An attached leaf was placed in an environmental chamber used for gas exchange and leaf temperature was monitored with cromel-constantan thermocouples, (0.08 mm) pressed against the underside of the leaf, or with an Inframetrics 600 thermal image analyzer that was focused on the upper side of the leaf. Radiation was monitored in the 8–12 μm range and the image was recorded on video tape. A two-degree temperature difference due to stomatal opening was detected. Stomatal opening as monitored by gas exchange was correlated significantly with leaf temperature. Under steady state conditions, stomata from cherry oscillated at 20-minute intervals. Stomata opened and closed uniformly. Factors investigated were light, carbon dioxide, ABA, and water stress. In all cases changes in temperature correlated with stomatal opening and closing. Response time to a change in environment was less than 10 minutes. The practical implications of this study are discussed.

Plant membrane transport, like transport across all eukaryotic membranes, is highly non-linear and leads to interactions with characteristics so complex that they defy intuitive understanding. The physiological behaviour of stomatal guard cells is a case in point in which, for example, mutations expected to influence stomatal closing have profound effects on stomatal opening and manipulating transport across the vacuolar membrane affects the plasma membrane. Quantitative mathematical modelling is an essential tool in these circumstances, both to integrate the knowledge of each transport process and to understand the consequences of their manipulation in vivo. Here, we outline the OnGuard modelling environment and its use as a guide to predicting the emergent properties arising from the interactions between non-linear transport processes. We summarise some of the recent insights arising from OnGuard, demonstrate its utility in interpreting stomatal behaviour, and suggest ways in which the OnGuard environment may facilitate ‘reverse-engineering’ of stomata to improve water use efficiency and carbon assimilation.

Photosynthetic, transpirational, and stomatal responses to light, temperature, humidity, and plant moisture stress were measured for greenhouse-grown seedlings of Larixoccidentalis Nutt. Light saturation was 550 μmol photons•m−2•s−1; light and CO2 compensation points were 26 μmol photons•m−2•s−1 and 59 μL CO2•L−1, respectively. Light-saturated photosynthetic rate was over 7 μmol CO2•m−2•s−1 with a temperature optimum between 18 and 23 °C. Photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance to water vapor declined as xylem pressure potential decreased from −1.5 to less than −2.5 MPa; above −1.5 MPa no effect was observed. Stomatal conductance declined with increasing leaf to air vapor density difference. Stomatal conductance increased with increasing irradiance. Nighttime stomatal conductance was about 50% of the daytime maximum conductance regardless of xylem pressure potential. When plants were well watered, the ratio of xylem pressure potential to transpiration (XPP/E) decreased by 1.5 × 10−3 MPa•(μg H2O•cm−2•s−1)−1 with each mg H2O•cm−2 that had been transpired. After 7 days of drought, however, XPP/E decreased at 7.9 × 10−3 MPa•(μg H2O•cm−2•s−1)−1 per mg H2O•cm−2. These characteristics are compared with other conifers and are used to suggest differences between growth patterns of L. occidentalis and sympatric species.

We measured whole-tree transpiration of mature Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies trees exposed to ambient and twice-ambient O3 regimes (1xO3 and 2xO3 free-air fumigation). After eight years, mean daily total transpiration did not vary with the O3 regime over the 31 days of our study, even though individual daily values increased with increasing daily O3 peaks in both species. Although the environmental parameters were similar at 1xO3 and 2xO3, the main factors affecting daily transpiration were vapour pressure deficit in 2xO3 spruce and O3 peaks in beech. For a mechanistic explanation, we measured O3-induced sluggish stomatal responses to variable light (sunflecks) by means of leaf-level gas exchange measurements only in the species where O3 was a significant factor for transpiration, i.e., beech. Stomata were always slower in closing than in opening. The 2xO3 stomata were slower in opening and mostly in closing than 1xO3 stomata, so that O3 uptake and water loss were amplified before a steady state was reached. Such delay in the stomatal reaction suggests caution when assessing stomatal conductance under O3 pollution, because recording gas exchange at the time photosynthesis reached an equilibrium resulted in a significant overestimation of stomatal conductance when stomata were closing (ab. 90% at 1xO3 and 250% at 2xO3). Sun and shade leaves showed similar sluggish responses, thus suggesting that sluggishness may occur within the entire crown. The fact that total transpiration was similar at 1xO3 and 2xO3, however, suggests that the higher water loss due to stomatal sluggishness was offset by lower steady-state stomatal conductance at 2xO3. In conclusion, O3 exposure amplified short-term water loss from mature beech trees by slowing stomatal dynamics, while decreased long-term water loss because of lower steady-state stomatal conductance. Over the short term of this experiment, the two responses offset each other and no effect on total transpiration was observed.

Guard cells regulate plant gas exchange and transpiration by modulation of stomatal aperture upon integrating external cues like photosynthetic effective illumination, CO2 levels and water availability and internal signals like abscisic acid (ABA). Being pores, stomata constitute a natural entry site for potentially harmful microbes. To prevent microbial invasion, stomata close upon perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), and this represents an important layer of active immunity at the preinvasive level. The signaling pathways leading to stomatal closure triggered by biotic and abiotic stresses employ several common components, such as reactive oxygen species, calcium, kinases, and hormones, suggesting considerable intersection between MAMP- and ABA-induced stomatal closures, which we will discuss in this review.

Gas exchange and growth of transplanted and nontransplanted, field-grown Norway maple (Acer platanoides L. `Schwedleri') and littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata Mill. `Greenspire') trees were investigated in an arid climate. In the spring of 1995, three trees of each species were moved with a tree spade to a new location within a field nursery and three nontransplanted trees were selected as controls. Predawn leaf water potential, morning-to-evening stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, leaf-to-air vapor pressure difference, midday stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, and growth data were collected over a 2-year period. After transplanting, weekly predawn leaf water potential indicated that transplanted trees were under greater water stress than were nontransplanted (control) trees. However, predawn leaf water potential of maple trees recovered to control levels 18 weeks after transplanting, while that of transplanted linden trees remained more negative than that of controls. In 1995, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates were lower throughout the day for transplanted trees. In 1996, gas exchange rates of transplanted maple trees recovered to near control levels while rates for transplanted linden trees did not. Sensitivity of stomata to leaf-to-air vapor pressure difference varied with species and with transplant treatment. Each year transplanted trees of both species had less apical growth than did control trees. Although gas exchange and apical growth of transplanted trees was reduced following transplanting, recovery of gas exchange to control rates differed with species.

Light affects the growth and development of plants by influencing the physical appearance of one leaf as well as the appearance of the whole plant. Plant photosynthesis, stomata density, and pigment contents are all influenced by light The objective of this research is to determine the effect of light on the photosynthesis, pigment content and stomatal density of Sun and Shade Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina. Gas exchange was measured using Li-6400 and the data obtained was used to create a light response curve where parameters including light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP) and apparent quantum yield were estimated. Photosynthetic pigment were quantified spectrophotometrically. Moreover, the stomatal density was counted under light microscope, after making a nail polish impression of the leaf. The results discovered shows that as the light intensity increases, the gas exchange and stomatal density increases while the photosynthetic pigment of the studied plant decreases (P<0.05). In addition, LSP and LCP increases with increasing light intensity. Besides, statistically significant negative correlation (P<0.05) was achieved among stomatal density and transpiration rate thereby leading to a conclusion that sun leaves of Vernonia amygdalina contribute the highest assimilation rate to the plant than shade leaves. Yet, the higher stomatal density of sun leaves provides water saving to the plant.

Water availability is one of the biggest constraints limiting the plant growth and species distribution around the world. This is the case in the Mediterranean region where, moreover, the frequency and amount of rainfall will decrease due to global warming. This will provoke longer periods of drought and a general decrease of water availability. In this context, one of the most vulnerable crops is grapevine. This crop has been traditionally rain-feed, although in recent years it’s becoming an irrigated crop. This increases the demand to regulate the water use by more precise irrigation techniques based on the plant water status. A good physiological indicator that allows knowing the plant water status is stomatal conductance. Although it is widely known the importance of the stoma, there is not an accurate model to predict their behavior as many physiological and environmental parameters co-regulate it. The aims of this thesis are to: a) study the physiological mechanisms regulating stomatal conductance, b) apply a process-based model to predict the behavior of stomatal conductance c) use this model as tool to better understand the physiological stomatal regulation along the canopy. Results show that stoma has a strong regulation by hydraulic conductance being a key physiological parameter regulating water use. In addition, abscisic acid and osmotic adjustment are also playing an important role in their regulation. On the other hand, the mechanistic model of stomatal conductance has been validated predicting with a good accuracy the variations throughout the day and season in well water and water stress conditions. At time, because this model is based on physiological parameters permits to infer about the relevance of those physiological parameters under water stress, predicting that hydraulic conductance has a main role on the regulation of stomatal conductance in different parts of the canopy.

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(農学)
甲第11798号
農博第1518号
新制||農||915(附属図書館)
学位論文||H17||N4072(農学部図書室)
23538
UT51-2005-F828
京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻
(主査)教授 谷 誠, 教授 櫻谷 哲夫, 教授 三野 徹
学位規則第4条第1項該当

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
The constant deficiency of available water resources and the society pressure for the rational water use in agriculture requires the correct management of the irrigation water. When a plant does not receive the right amount of water, it will affect the crop yield. The deficit irrigation contributes to increase the crops yield, comparing to a systems without irrigation, and as a results the agriculture will be more efficient preserving the quality ant quantity of natural recourses increasing or maintaining the crop yield. Therefore, this study is justified insofar as it seeks to identify deficit irrigation management in order to maintain satisfactory productivity, coupled with the water savings. The objective of this research was to evaluate water relations and gas exchange through the assessment of physiological variables that indicate changes in the crop yield of dry bean submitted to deficit irrigation. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, under a mobile greenhouse, which was only closed during the occurrence of rain. In this way, there was no rainfall interference affecting the treatments. A completely randomized design was used with three replications. Treatments were consisted of four irrigation managements: 100% of accumulated crop evapotranspiration (ETc ac), and deficit irrigation of 75%, 50% and 25% of the ETc ac. Dry beans was sowed under a no tillage system, and the irrigation need was determined based on crop evapotranspiration values estimated using Penman-Monteith method, and the crop coefficients (Kc) used were those proposed by Allen et al. (1998). Irrigations were applied when the ETc accumulated a height of 20mm. The following leaf water relations and leaf gas exchanges were evaluated: Transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf steam pressure deficit, internal concentration of CO2 and photosynthesis rate, using a LI-6400 (LI-Cor). With the values of photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and internal concentration of CO2 were determined: transpiration instantaneous efficiency (photosynthesis rate/transpiration rate); intrinsic water use efficiency and (photosynthesis rate/stomatal conductance); carboxylation efficiency of the plants (photosynthesis rate/internal concentration of CO2). The following morphological features were evaluated: leaf area index, plant height and yield compounds (one hundred mass grains, number of seed plant and crop yield). The water use efficiency (EUA) was found by the ratio between grain yield (kg ha-1) and total depth applied (mm). During crop development accumulated ETc was 379,7 mm and was applied 122, 206, 290 and 376 mm of irrigation depth for the deficit irrigation treatment of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of ETc ac, respectively. The application of deficit irrigation reduced the leaf area index, plant height and reduction of 47,41% in the number of seed plant, 39,26%, in one hundred mass grain and 53,41% in crop yield. The reduction in water depth from 100% to 25% of ETc ac reduced by up to 91% of the stomatal concuctance and these plants had lower photosynthesis rate. The plants that received irrigation depth of 100% of ETc ac had higher E and carboxylation efficiency. The intrinsic water use efficiency and water use efficiency increased with the use of deficit irrigation.
A escassez dos recursos hídricos e a pressão social para o uso racional da água na agricultura exigem o correto uso e manejo da água de irrigação, pois, a falta ou excesso, comprometem o rendimento das culturas. O uso da irrigação, deficitária ou estratégica, contribui para o aumento da produtividade de grãos, comparando-se às condições de sequeiro, e resulta em uma agricultura economicamente mais eficiente, preservando os recursos naturais em termos de quantidade e qualidade, mantendo níveis satisfatórios de produtividade. Portanto, o presente estudo se justifica na medida em que se busca identificar manejos de irrigação deficitária que permitam manter níveis satisfatórios de produtividade, aliados à economia de água e energia. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as relações hídricas e as trocas gasosas, através da avaliação de variáveis fisiológicas que indiquem alterações na produção das plantas de feijão, quando submetidas a diferentes manejos de irrigação deficitária. O experimento foi desenvolvido na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brasil, no interior de uma cobertura móvel, estruturada sobre trilhos metálicos, com movimentação mecânica, a qual somente foi fechada durante a ocorrência de chuvas. Dessa forma, não houve a interferência das chuvas durante a execução dos tratamentos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de quatro manejos de irrigação: reposição de 100% da evapotranspiração da cultura acumulada (ETc ac), e irrigação deficitária de 75%, 50% e 25% da ETc ac. A cultura do feijão foi semeada sob sistema de plantio direto e a necessidade de irrigação foi determinada com base na evapotranspiração da cultura, estimada pelo método de Penman-Monteith e os coeficientes de cultura (Kc) foram os propostos por Allen et al. (1998). Irrigações eram realizadas quando a ETc acumulava um valor de 20 mm. As seguintes relações hídricas e trocas gasosas das plantas foram avaliadas: taxa de transpiração, condutância estomática, déficit de pressão de vapor na folha, concentração interna de CO2 e taxa fotossintética, com o aparelho LI-6400 da Licor. Com os valores de taxa fotossintética, taxa de transpiração, condutância estomática e concentração interna de CO2 foram determinados: a eficiência instantânea da transpiração (razão taxa fotossintética/taxa de transpiração); a eficiência intrínseca do uso da água (razão taxa fotossintética/condutância estomática) e; a eficiência de carboxilação das plantas (razão taxa fotossintética/concentração interna de CO2). Foram avaliadas as seguintes características morfológicas nas plantas: índice de área foliar e altura de plantas e, os componentes de rendimento: massa de cem grãos, número de vagens por planta e rendimento de grãos. A eficiência de uso da água foi encontrada por meio da razão entre a produtividade de grãos (kg ha-1) e total de lâmina aplicada (mm). Durante o ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura do feijão a ETc ac foi de 379,7 mm e foram aplicados 122, 206, 290 e 376 mm de lâmina de irrigação para os tratamentos de 25, 50, 75 e 100% da ETc ac, respectivamente. A aplicação da irrigação deficitária reduziu o índice de área foliar, a altura das plantas e causou reduções de até 47,41% no número de vagens por planta, 39,26%, na massa de cem grãos de feijão e 53,41% no rendimento de grãos. A redução da lâmina de irrigação de 100% para 25% da ETc ac reduziu em até 87% a condutância estomática das plantas e estas apresentaram menor taxa fotossintética. As plantas que receberam lâmina de irrigação de 100% da ETc ac apresentaram maiores taxa de transpiração e eficiência de carboxilação. A eficiência instrínseca do uso da água e a eficiência do uso da água aumentaram com a utilização da irrigação deficitária.

Air pollutant exposure poses a health risk to humans and impacts negatively on agriculture. High levels of air pollution resulted in extensive crop damage and yield reduction in Europe and USA. The Highveld region in South Africa, a very important area for maize and soya production, has already been declared an air pollution hot spot, with SO2 being the most concerning air pollutant. Most of the SO2 over the Highveld originates from the burning of coal for power generation. Developing countries, such as South Africa, are highly dependent on agriculture for food security and high levels of air pollution pose serious risks to the agricultural industry. Currently very little information is available on the effects of air pollution on crop production in South Africa. This study aimed to establish exposure-response relationship for SO2 on soybean and the quantification thereof on the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Two soybean cultivars were used, namely: LS 6164 and PAN 1666. The plants were fumigated for 7 hours, 7 days a week with 0 (carbon filtered control; CF), 25, 75 and 150 ppb SO2. The effect of SO2 was investigated on the growth, photosynthetic capabilities, photosynthetic gas exchange, peroxidase activity and lipoxygenase activity of the cultivars. Foliar injuries and interveinal chlorosis were visible with increasing levels of SO2 as well as a decrease in biomass accumulation, especially in root biomass; a more prominent feature of LS 6164. The number of nodules of both cultivars decreased insignificantly as the levels of SO2 increased. The number of pods per plant and the average weight of 30 seeds indicated a downward trend with an increase in SO2 concentration. The chlorophyll content of PAN 1666 was lower compared to LS 6164. PAN 1666 had the largest reduction in stomatal conductance at 150 ppb SO2 fumigation. The photosynthetic vitality index indicated that LS 6164 was more sensitive to SO2 inhibition from 25 ppb SO2 and higher, whereas PAN 1666 mostly became sensitive to SO2 from 75 ppb SO2. A decrease in the ability to absorb light energy, the trapping of excitation energy to transfer electrons beyond QA-, and the reduction of end electron acceptors all contributed to the decline in the vitality index. Sulphur content increased significantly in the 75 ppb and 150 ppb treatments of both cultivars. Induced peroxidase and lipoxygenase activity was seen in both cultivars, especially at higher concentrations of SO2 treatments. PAN 1666 had a higher rate of peroxidase and lipoxygenase activity compared to LS 6164. The implication for SO2 on crop production in the highly industrial Highveld area was demonstrated to be potentially of great concern. The dose-response relationships plotted for OJIP parameters emphasized that SO2 is an inhibitor of photosynthesis and phytotoxic of nature. Both cultivars experienced limitations from 75 ppb, especially at the 150 ppb SO2 concentration. From these results it appears that PAN 1666 is more adapted to SO2 compared to LS 6164 and levels of 75 ppb SO2 and higher become toxic to these plants.
Thesis (Master of Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The forest product industry is keenly interested in extending the normal planting season, as well as in the comparative field performance of standard nursery bare-root seedlings and containerized rooted cuttings. The effect of seasonal planting dates on survival, above and belowground biomass allocation, water relations, gas exchange attributes and foliar carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of two stock types of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) were examined. Slash pine bare-root seedlings (BRS) and containerized rooted cuttings (CRC) were hand planted in September, November, January, March and April in three consecutive planting seasons (2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003) on three sites with silt loam topsoils in southwestern Louisiana. First-year mean survival of CRC across all planting dates and sites was consistently high at 96 to 98%, whereas BRS survival was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower at 59 to 81% and highly variable among study sites and dates through three planting seasons. Generally, there was a negative relationship between soil moisture at the time of planting and first-year survival of BRS planted September through March in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 planting seasons, whereas the opposite was observed only for BRS planted in April 2002 and 2003. Survival of CRC was affected very little by the variation in soil moisture. Containerized rooted cuttings had higher early above and belowground biomass, and height and diameter than did BRS. However, three years after planting the size differences between stock types disappeared or became negligible. Early size differences among trees planted September through March also decreased after three years, although September trees were tallest. Growth of the April-planted trees was poor compared to trees planted in other months. Late-planted April trees had higher δ13C values, and higher water-use efficiency in the first growing season compared to earlier planted trees. Differences in δ13C values among the planting dates disappeared in the second growing season. Net photosynthesis rates did not differ considerably between stock types or among planting dates in the second and third growing seasons. This study indicates that it is possible to extend the planting season to as early as September and as late as March by using CRC.

Salinity usually reduces plant growth in terms of height and biomass, but can increase secondary metabolite production. This frequently reported observation in guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray, Asteraceae) was investigated for possible mechanisms.Osmotic and specific ion effects of four chloride salts (CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl, and NaCl) on leaf anatomical and plant physiological parameters were studied. One-year-old plants of guayule line AZ 2 were grown under two salt concentrations (750 ppm and 1500 ppm) for each salt type (plus a control) in sand culture (semi-hydroponic) for eight weeks under controlled greenhouse conditions in Tucson, Arizona.Growth in height decreased with increasing salt concentration. Shoot dry weight, rubber, and resin contents, however, showed no significant differences between treatments, indicating no effect from either salt concentration or salt type. There was a trend for increasing rubber content with increasing salt concentration, although not statistically significant. At the same time, net CO2 gas exchange rates decreased significantly with increasing salinity.With increasing salt concentration, guayule showed osmotic effects in terms of height, indicating a lower hydraulic conductivity. Although plants of higher salt concentrations utilized significantly less water, they had the same shoot dry weights, rubber, and resin contents. Salt-stressed plants therefore achieved higher water use efficiencies. The diurnal net CO2 gas exchange rates were significantly reduced with increasing salinity; the nocturnal net CO2 gas exchange rates showed no significant difference between the treatments.Anatomically, it was found that the stomata were raised or elevated above the epidermis, and supported by upwardly curving cells. When guayule was grown under salt treatments, the trichomes were found to include deposits of material. Trichomes might act as a detoxification repository for excess ions. Although the physiological significance of raised stomata is unknown, it is hypothesized that the unique combination of raised stomata, indumentum, and multiple layers of palisade parenchyma allows for an overall high photosynthetic capacity and performance. During stress conditions such as salinity or drought, guayule might activate an internal CO2 concentrating mechanism, i.e., bicarbonate/CO2 pump, internal CO2 recycling, or PEP carboxylation activity.

Crop yields are coming under pressure to continue to grow in the face of climate change, competition, disease and pressure to reduce inputs. Photosynthetic efficiency is being targeted for improvement to increase yields. This study examined the variation in parameters of photosynthetic efficiency including canopy structure (leaf length, canopy angle, and chlorophyll content and growth rate) and gas exchange (photosynthetic rate, stomatal density and chlorophyll fluorescence) in Spring Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp vulgare). These were first established for modern cultivars representing the most widely grown lines in the last 60 years. As cultivars are developed from a small pool of parents they may have limited genetic variation available for breeding. Landraces have been suggested as sources of variation. Using field and growth cabinet based studies the photosynthetic efficiencies of canopy structure and gas exchange were established for a range of European landraces under high and low nutrient inputs. This study demonstrated that in modern cultivars the leaf length increased with year of release from 23.2 to 29.6 cm and the chlorophyll content decreased from 46.9 to 34.8 SPAD units. Once the ear had emerged no difference was seen in canopy structure or photosynthetic rate. There was variation in landrace canopy establishment rate, leaf angle and number of leaves present within the canopy. The landraces from Northern European latitudes pushed though booting and reached full canopy establishment up to 8 days sooner than those from Southern Europe. This may be a response to a shorter growth season at Northern latitudes requiring the canopy to be established quickly. The landraces held the leaves within their canopy in a more horizontal position than the Southern European lines with leaf angle ranging from 18-45 degrees at GS39 and 31-84 degrees at GS59. This regressed negatively with temperature so it may be that a vertical canopy structure is beneficial in areas with higher temperatures. The photosynthetic rate of the landraces showed no variation but when chlorophyll fluorescence examined the efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) there was a positive regression of Fv/Fm ratio with latitude. This suggested that lines from Southern Europe were experiencing a greater stress with a ratio of up to 0.822 compared to those lines from the North with ratios from 0.767. The stomatal density of the landraces showed a large difference in ranges from 22-41 stomata between the lines. When high and low nutrient inputs were compared reductions from a ratio of 0.48 to 0.47 in Harvest Index and from 55g to 52g in 1000 grain weight were seen. The chlorophyll content of the lines was also reduced from 41.7 to 39.2 SPAD units at GS39 and from 44.9 to 39.8 SPAD units at GS59 by the reduction in nutrient inputs which may be a result of less N available for the production of chlorophyll. In conclusion there is variation present in canopy structure in European landraces that may be useful for future breeding or in identifying landrace collections which could be targeted for traits of interest in photosynthetic efficiency. These landraces may provide traits which could be used to develop cultivars which are locally adapted to climate and environmental conditions.

Maize is one of the mostly consumed grains in the world. It possesses a greater potentiality of being an alternative to rice and wheat in the near future. In field condition, maize encounters abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, water logging, cold, heat, etc. Physiology and production of maize are largely affected by drought. Drought has become a prime cause of agricultural disaster because of the major occurrence records of the last few decades. It leads to immense losses in plant growth (plant height and stem), water relations (relative water content), gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate), and nutrient levels in maize. To mitigate the effect of stress, plant retreats by using multiple morphological, molecular, and physiological mechanisms. Maize alters its physiological processes like photosynthesis, oxidoreductase activities, carbohydrate metabolism, nutrient metabolism, and other drought-responsive pathways in response to drought. Synthesis of some chemicals like proline, abscisic acid (ABA), different phenolic compounds, etc. helps to fight against stress. Inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can result to the gene expression involved in the biosynthesis of abscisic acid which also helps to resist drought. Moreover, adaptation to drought and heat stress is positively influenced by the activity of chaperone proteins and proteases, protein that responds to ethylene and ripening. Some modifications generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 are able to improve maize yield in drought. Forward and reverse genetics and functional and comparative genomics are being implemented now to overcome stress conditions like drought. Maize response to drought is a multifarious physiological and biochemical process. Applying data synthesis approach, this study aims toward better demonstration of its consequences to provide critical information on maize tolerance along with minimizing yield loss.

On the peach species, Springold variety, research was conducted on the influence of the F414 biological product on some physiological indexes and processes carried out on the foliar level, the area of culture being characterized by an accentuated thermo-hydric stress during the summer. Photosynthetic gas exchange, foliar transpiration and stomatal conductance were determined with the portable LC PRO + apparatus, and the leaf water forms were determined gravimetrically, the results obtained being correlated with the meteorological data from the vegetation period. Applying the F414 to the Springold variety resulted in the formation of a pellicle on the surface of the leaves, which, together with the action of the thermo-hydric stress specific to the area, caused stomate closure, reduction of CO2 supply, photosynthesis values being considerably lower compared to the control variant. As for foliar transpiration, the F414 product had a positive effect, the pellicle formed on the surface of the leaves, reducing the amount of water lost to the foliage. The application of this product has positively influenced drought resistance of the Springold variety, the percentages of the bound water being higher (5.1%) compared to the control variant (3.96%).