Mechanism of Stomatal

Regulation

Submitted To:
 Miss Arshia Tariq
Submitted By:
 Muhammad Faisal 281
 Maria Bibi 297
 Saba Nadir 311
 Moqadas Ijaz 320
 Mudasra Tehreem 323
 Muhammad Mukhtiar 324
 Fiza Bibi 338

Department:
BS Botany (6th Semester 2020-2024)
 Stomata
There are certain parts in all green plants which are essential and play a critical role in
different life processes. Stomata is one of the essential parts that is involved in
gaseous exchange. There are thousands of stomata on the surface of the leaves. Most
of these are found on the lower side of the leaves.

Stomatal Regulation

 Stomata are the tiny openings present on the epidermis of leaves which aid
in gaseous exchange between plants and surrounding. They are found only
in the aerial parts of the plants.
 The stomatal opening and the guard cells are together referred as stoma.
 The number of stomata present on the surface of leaves varies from species to
species.
 The number of stomata present in the lower surface is always greater than
that in upper surface. However, in many cases stomata are absent on the
upper surface, for example in xerophytes.
 Stomata are scattered in case of dicot leaves while they are arranged in
parallel rows in case of monocot leaves.
 The kidney shaped cells present around the stomata are called guard cells.
They are living and consist of chloroplasts and a large amount of cytoplasm.
 The accessory or subsidiary cells refers to the epidermal cells present around
the guard cells.
 Opening and Closing of Stomata

 The opening and closing of stomata depend on the presence of sugar and
starch in the guard cells.
 During the day time, photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts and so
guard cells contain soluble sugar which increases the sap concentration of
guard cells. So, water from surrounding cells move towards guard cells
through osmosis and they become turgid. Thus, stomata are opened.
 During the night time, there is no sunlight and so, no photosynthesis takes
place and the sugar present in the cells is converted into insoluble starch.
The sap concentration of the guard cells is low and so water moves from
 guard cells to the surrounding cells making the cell flaccid and thus, stomata
are closed.
 The starch-sugar conversion depends on the pH of the cell. At night, no
photosynthesis takes place so, carbon dioxide accumulates in the cell, makes
acidic conditions and sugar is converted into starch.
 During day time, carbon dioxide is consumed in the photosynthesis so basic
condition is created and starch is converted into sugar.

Bonner and Gallstone Hypothesis

 Bonner and Gallstone proposed that the mechanism of opening and closing
of stomata is independent of the presence or absence of sunlight and depends
on the carbon dioxide concentration of stomatal cell.
 When concentration of carbon dioxide equals the concentration of carbon
dioxide i.e. 0.03% then guard cells are flaccid and stomata are closed.
 As the density of carbon dioxide decreases the stomata starts to open when
concentration of carbon dioxide becomes 0.01% stomata are fully opened.
 During day time, concentration of carbon dioxide decreases below 0.03%
because of its consumption in photosynthesis so the stomata are opened.
 During night time, concentration of carbon dioxide is 0.03% because of it is
not consumed in photosynthesis so guard cells are flaccid and the stomata
are closed.
 Active Potassium (K+) Theory
 This theory is the universally accepted theory for the mechanism of opening
and closing of stomata.
 According to this theory potassium ions are responsible for opening
and closing of stomata. This was first observed by Fujino in 1967 that the
stomata open due to transfer of potassium ions from the surrounding cells
into the guard cells.
 Uptake of potassium ions increases the osmotic concentration of guard cells
and so, water from surrounding cells enters into the guard cell which leads to
opening of stomata. So, uptake of potassium ions controls the water potential
gradient.
 In 1974, Levitt found that uptake of protons by the guard cells with the help
of ATP increases the pH of guard cells which results into conversion of
starch into organic acid like malic acid.
 During the day time, in presence of light, starch is converted into malic acid
which dissociates into malate ions and protons(H+).
 Protons are exchanged with the potassium ions by the guard cells. This
exchange requires ATP. So, the concentration of potassium ions increases
and that of protons decreases thus, pH increases.
 The potassium’s ions taken by the cell is balanced by chloride ions and
malate ions, produced after hydrolysis of starch into malic acid.

 The potassium ions form potassium malate which enters in the cell sap.
Water potential decreases and the osmotic concentration of the cell
decreases, endosmosis takes place, guard cells become turgid and the
stomata opens.
 During night, there is no light so concentration of malic acid is low.
Potassium ions move out of cell and protons enters the cell and pH of the
cell decreases. Under these conditions, exosmosis takes place, cells become
flaccid and stomata closes.
 Factors Affecting Stomatal Movement

1. Light- Stomata open in light and close in absence of light. Optimum