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The role of stomata in sensing and driving environmental change

Nature volume 424, pages 901–908 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Stomata, the small pores on the surfaces of leaves and stalks, regulate the flow of gases in and out of leaves and thus plants as a whole. They adapt to local and global changes on all timescales from minutes to millennia. Recent data from diverse fields are establishing their central importance to plant physiology, evolution and global ecology. Stomatal morphology, distribution and behaviour respond to a spectrum of signals, from intracellular signalling to global climatic change. Such concerted adaptation results from a web of control systems, reminiscent of a ‘scale-free’ network, whose untangling requires integrated approaches beyond those currently used.

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Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3: Control of stomata by the environment.
Figure 4: Model of guard cell signalling.
Figure 5: Field observations of maximum photosynthesis (A) and stomatal conductance to water vapour (g).

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Acknowledgements

A.M.H. wishes to acknowledge the support of the BBSRC to further stomatal research in his laboratory and the Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford, for the award of a Christensen Visiting Fellowship. F.I.W. is pleased to acknowledge support from NERC to further his stomatal research. We also wish to acknowledge G. Farquhar, J. Raven, M. Blatt, A. Webb, B. Davies, C. Price, N. Battey and J. Lake for providing input during the writing of this review, and L. Hunt, J. Gray and L. Mills for the stomatal images.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, The Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK

    Alistair M. Hetherington

  2. Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK

    F. Ian Woodward

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Correspondence to Alistair M. Hetherington.

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Hetherington, A., Woodward, F. The role of stomata in sensing and driving environmental change. Nature 424, 901–908 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01843

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