Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity (original) (raw)

Nature volume 282, pages 424–426 (1979) Cite this article

Abstract

Previous studies on the Physiology of stomata in higher plants suggest that stomata influence the rate of CO2 fixation in leaf mesophyll tissue. We believe that an equally important stomatal function has not been fully recognised; that stomatal aperture is determined by the capacity of the mesophyll tissue to fix carbon. We altered the capacity of leaves to fix carbon by various means, and found invariably that the diffusive conductance of the epidermis to CO2 transfer, g, (which mainly depends on the number and dimensions of the stomata) changes in nearly the same proportion as the rate of assimilation of CO2. Thus, the intercellular concentration of CO2 (c i), calculated as c i = c a –A/g (where c a is ambient concentration of CO2, A is assimilation rate of CO2), tends to remain constant providing ca is kept constant. We used routine techniques1 to measure A and estimate g in leaves placed singly in chambers. Conductance takes account of CO2 transfer through both stomata and leaf boundary layer, the conductance of the latter being 0.5 mol m−2 s−1.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wong, S. C., Cowan, I. R. & Farquhar, G. D. Pl. Physiol. 62, 670–674 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  2. Nátr, L. Photosynthetica 61, 80–99 (1972).
    Google Scholar
  3. Davis, S. D. & McCree, K. J. Crop Sci. 18, 280–282 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  4. Goudriaan, J. & van Laar, H. H. Photosynthetica 12, 241–249 (1978).
    CAS Google Scholar
  5. Ishikara, K., Sago, R., Ogura, T., Ushijima, T. & Tazaki, T. Proc. Crop Sci. Jpn 41, 93–101 (1972).
    Article Google Scholar
  6. Louwerse, W. & vd. Zweerde, W. Photosynthetica 11, 11–21 (1977).
    CAS Google Scholar
  7. Yoshida, S. & Coronel, V. Soil Sci. Pl. Nutr. 22, 207–211 (1976).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Takeda, T., Sugimoto, H. & Agata, W. Japan J. Crop Sci. 47, 82–89 (1978).
    Article Google Scholar
  9. Jones, M. M. thesis, Australian National Univ. (1979).
  10. Collatz, J., Ferrar, P. J. & Slatyer, R. O. Oecologia 23, 95–105 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  11. Dubbe, D. R., Farquhar, G. D. & Raschke, K. Pl. Physiol. 62, 413–417 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  12. Singh, M. K. & Tsunoda, S. Photosynthetica 12, 280–283 (1978).
    CAS Google Scholar
  13. Schulze, E.-D., Lange, O. L., Buschbom, U., Kappen, L. & Evenari, M. Planta 108, 259–270 (1972).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Troughton, J. H. & Slatyer, R. O. Aust. J. biol. Sci. 22, 815–827 (1969).
    Article Google Scholar
  15. Lawlor, D. W. & Fock, H. J. exp. Bot. 29, 579–593 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  16. Raschke, K. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 26, 309–340 (1975).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  17. Lurie, S. Planta 140, 245–249 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  18. Heichel, G. H. & Anagnostakis, S. L. Pl. Physiol. 62, 387–390 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  19. Raschke, K., Hanebuth, W. F. & Farquhar, G. D. Planta 139, 73–77 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  20. Dittrich, P. & Raschke, K. Planta 134, 83–90 (1977).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  21. Cowan, I. R. Adv. bot. Res. 4, 117–228 (1977).
    Article Google Scholar
  22. Farquhar, G. D. in Photosynthesis and Plant Development (ed. Marcelle, R.) (Junk, The Hague, in the press).
  23. Cowan, I. R. & Farquhar, G. D. Soc. exp. Biol. Symp. 31, 471–505 (1977).
    CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, PO Box 475, Canberra City, A.C.T., 2601, Australia
    S. C. Wong, I. R. Cowan & G. D. Farquhar

Authors

  1. S. C. Wong
  2. I. R. Cowan
  3. G. D. Farquhar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wong, S., Cowan, I. & Farquhar, G. Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity.Nature 282, 424–426 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282424a0

Download citation

This article is cited by