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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
11:09
Relating Stomatal Conductance to Leaf Functional Traits
Published on: October 12, 2015
Patchy stomatal behavior in broad-leaved trees grown in different habitats
Satoru Takanashi1, Yoshiko Kosugi, Naoka Matsuo
1Laboratory of Forest Hydrology, Division of Environmental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. takanash@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Tree Physiology
|December 16, 2006
Summary
Leaf stomatal behavior varies significantly across tree species and climates. Bimodal stomatal closure in some species, unlike bell-shaped distributions, explains midday depression in gas exchange and photosynthetic rates.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Ecology
- Forest Science
Background:
- Stomatal behavior heterogeneity influences leaf gas exchange.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for plant productivity and climate adaptation.
- Previous studies often assumed uniform stomatal responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of stomatal heterogeneity on leaf gas-exchange characteristics.
- Compare stomatal behavior in tree species from temperate, tropical monsoon, and tropical rainforest climates.
- Determine the relationship between stomatal distribution patterns and gas-exchange models.
Main Methods:
- Combined gas-exchange measurements with the pressure-infiltration method.
- Analyzed field observations of stomatal responses in four tree species.
- Utilized a gas-exchange model to interpret stomatal conductance distributions.
Main Results:
- Identified linear relationships between whole-leaf conductance and open stomata area in some species (Dipterocarpus sublamellatus, Neobalanocarpus heimii).
- Observed nonlinear relationships in other species (Cinnamomum camphora, Azadirachta indica), suggesting bell-shaped stomatal distributions.
- Found that bimodal stomatal closure primarily causes midday depression of carboxylation rates (V(cmax25)).
Conclusions:
- Stomatal conductance distributions can be bimodal or bell-shaped, affecting gas exchange dynamics.
- Bimodal stomatal closure is a key factor in midday photosynthetic depression.
- The bimodal stomatal distribution model accurately explains diurnal photosynthetic and transpiration patterns.
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