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Stomatal density of cowpea correlates with carbon isotope discrimination in different phosphorus, water and CO 2 environments
Author(s) -
Sekiya Nobuhito,
Yano Katsuya
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02518.x
Subject(s) - stomatal density , phosphorus , δ13c , isotopes of carbon , water use efficiency , terrestrial plant , biology , botany , chemistry , stable isotope ratio , ecology , total organic carbon , photosynthesis , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Summary• Stomatal formation is affected by a plant's external environment, with long‐distance signaling from mature to young leaves seemingly involved. However, it is still unclear what is responsible for this signal. To address this question, the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and stomatal density was examined in cowpea ( Vigna sinensis ). • Plants were grown under various environments that combined different amounts of soil phosphorus (P), soil water, and atmospheric CO 2 . At harvest, stomatal density was measured in the youngest fully expanded leaf. The 13 C : 12 C ratio was measured in a young leaf to determine the Δ in mature leaves. • Results indicated that stomatal density is affected by P as well as by amounts of water and CO 2 . However, stomatal responses to water and CO 2 were complex because of strong interactions with P. This suggests that the responses are relative, depending on some internal factor being affected by each external variable. Despite such complicated responses, a linear correlation was found between stomatal density and Δ across all environments examined. • It is proposed that the Δ value is a good surrogate for the long‐term mean of the intercellular ( C i ) to the atmospheric ( C a ) CO 2 concentration ratio ( C i : C a ) and may be useful in understanding stomatal formation beyond complicated interactions.