Photosynthetic electron transport in guard cells of diverse species

Guard cells of plants representing 18 species were assayed qualitatively for potential to conduct photosynthetic linear electron transport. These plants included C(3) pteridophytes, C(3) and C(4) monocots, and C(3), C(4), and Crassulacean acid metabolism dicots. By use of a microfluorospectrophotometer, guard cell samples in epidermal peels were isolated optically. Chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored from the onset of excitation light. For guard cells of all these species, fluorescence intensity increased during illumination. When samples were preincubated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, diuron, however, there was a more rapid increase in fluorescence. These results indicate that all tested guard cells conduct photosynthetic electron transport through the reaction center of photosystem II.