Do stomata operate at the same relative opening range along a canopy profile of Betula pendula?
Eve Eensalu A C , Priit Kupper A , Arne Sellin A , Märt Rahi B , Anu Sõber A and Olevi Kull AA Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Department of Botany, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu 51005, Estonia.
B Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Riia 181, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
C Corresponding author. Email: eve.eensalu@ut.ee
Functional Plant Biology 35(2) 103-110 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP07258
Submitted: 2 November 2007 Accepted: 15 January 2008 Published: 19 March 2008
Abstract
Stomatal density and size were measured along the light gradient of a Betula pendula Roth. canopy in relation to microclimatic conditions. The theoretical stomatal conductance was calculated using stomatal density and dimensions to predict to what degree stomatal conductance is related to anatomical properties and relative stomatal opening. Stomatal density was higher and leaf area smaller in the upper canopy, whereas epidermal cell density did not change significantly along the canopy light gradient, indicating that stomatal initiation is responsible for differences in stomatal density. Stomatal dimensions – the length of guard cell on the dorsal side and the guard cell width – decreased with declining light availability. Maximum measured stomatal conductance and modelled stomatal conductance were higher at the top of the crown. The stomata operate closer to their maximum openness and stomatal morphology is a more important determinant of stomatal conductance in the top leaves than in leaves of lower canopy. As stomata usually limit photosynthesis more in upper than in lower canopy, it was concluded that stomatal morphology can principally be important for photosynthesis limitation in upper canopy.
Additional keywords: light intensity, stomatal conductance, stomatal density, stomatal morphology.
Acknowledgements
The work was sponsored by Estonian Science Foundation (Grants Nos. 6617, 6969 and 7016). We are grateful to Ingmar Tulva and Maarja Öpik for fruitful discussions and to Robert Szava-Kovats for language correction.
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