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A stomatal safety-efficiency trade-off constrains responses to leaf dehydration

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Henry

    (University of California Los Angeles)

  • Grace P. John

    (University of California Los Angeles
    University of Texas at Austin)

  • Ruihua Pan

    (University of California Los Angeles
    Inner Mongolia University)

  • Megan K. Bartlett

    (University of California Los Angeles
    University of California Davis)

  • Leila R. Fletcher

    (University of California Los Angeles)

  • Christine Scoffoni

    (University of California Los Angeles
    California State University, Los Angeles)

  • Lawren Sack

    (University of California Los Angeles)

Abstract

Stomata, the microvalves on leaf surfaces, exert major influences across scales, from plant growth and productivity to global carbon and water cycling. Stomatal opening enables leaf photosynthesis, and plant growth and water use, whereas plant survival of drought depends on stomatal closure. Here we report that stomatal function is constrained by a safety-efficiency trade-off, such that species with greater stomatal conductance under high water availability (gmax) show greater sensitivity to closure during leaf dehydration, i.e., a higher leaf water potential at which stomatal conductance is reduced by 50% (Ψgs50). The gmax - Ψgs50 trade-off and its mechanistic basis is supported by experiments on leaves of California woody species, and in analyses of previous studies of the responses of diverse flowering plant species around the world. Linking the two fundamental key roles of stomata—the enabling of gas exchange, and the first defense against drought—this trade-off constrains the rates of water use and the drought sensitivity of leaves, with potential impacts on ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Henry & Grace P. John & Ruihua Pan & Megan K. Bartlett & Leila R. Fletcher & Christine Scoffoni & Lawren Sack, 2019. "A stomatal safety-efficiency trade-off constrains responses to leaf dehydration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11006-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11006-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Mathilde Chomel & Jocelyn M. Lavallee & Nil Alvarez-Segura & Elizabeth M. Baggs & Tancredi Caruso & Francisco Castro & Mark C. Emmerson & Matthew Magilton & Jennifer M. Rhymes & Franciska T. Vries & D, 2022. "Intensive grassland management disrupts below-ground multi-trophic resource transfer in response to drought," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Liao, Qi & Ding, Risheng & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Tong, Ling & Li, Sien, 2022. "Stomatal conductance drives variations of yield and water use of maize under water and nitrogen stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    3. Li, Hao & Hou, Xuemin & Bertin, Nadia & Ding, Risheng & Du, Taisheng, 2023. "Quantitative responses of tomato yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency to soil salinity under different water regimes in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).

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