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On the origins of osmotically driven stomatal movements
Author(s) -
Sussmilch Frances C.,
Roelfsema M. Rob G.,
Hedrich Rainer
Publication year - 2019
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/nph.15593
Subject(s) - guard cell , bryophyte , biology , moss , botany , turgor pressure , extant taxon , desiccation , ecology , evolutionary biology
ContentsSummary 84 I. Introduction 84 II. Stomatal form and biomechanics 85 III. Stomatal function 86 IV. Evolution of guard cell ion channels 87 V. Conclusions 88Acknowledgements 88Author contributions 88References 88Summary Stomatal pores with apertures that can be adjusted by changes in guard cell turgor have facilitated plant success in dry environments. We explore their evolutionary origins, considering recent findings from bryophytes. Unlike vascular plant stomata, which close to prevent water loss, bryophyte stomata become locked open to promote spore desiccation. We find that the families of ion channels, known to control stomatal movements in angiosperms, are ancient and represented across extant land plants. However, although angiosperm guard cells express specific ion channel genes, none appear specifically expressed in stomata‐bearing moss tissues. Given the evolutionary shift in stomatal function from promotion to prevention of water loss, we postulate that ion channels adopted guard cell‐specific functions after the divergence of bryophytes.