Related Concept Videos
02:04Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
02:16Light Acquisition
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
02:03Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources
The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
02:27Basic Plant Anatomy: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
The primary organs of vascular plants are roots, stems, and leaves, but these structures can be highly variable, adapted for the specific needs and environment of different plant species.
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Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
11:09
Relating Stomatal Conductance to Leaf Functional Traits
Published on: October 12, 2015
Changes in stomatal conductance along grass blades reflect changes in leaf structure.
T W Ocheltree1, J B Nippert, P V V Prasad
1Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. troyoch@ksu.edu
Plant, Cell & Environment
|December 8, 2011
Summary
Grass blade structure influences gas exchange. Water transport efficiency to stomata increases along the leaf, enhancing photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in grasses.
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12:11Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method (EFM)
Published on: December 31, 2012
06:04Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections
Published on: July 12, 2024
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Anatomy
- Ecology
Background:
- Grass leaf morphology, characterized by long, narrow blades, presents unique physiological challenges.
- Understanding how this morphology affects gas exchange is crucial for comprehending grass growth strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate acropetal changes in anatomy, hydraulic conductivity, and gas exchange rates along grass blades.
- To correlate structural leaf traits with physiological functions in different grass species.
Main Methods:
- Examined five grass species (C3 and C4 functional types).
- Analyzed anatomical features, xylem hydraulic conductivity, stomatal density, and pore index.
- Measured rates of gas exchange (stomatal conductance, photosynthesis) along the leaf blade.
Main Results:
- Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis increased acropetally along grass blades, irrespective of constant light.
- Hydraulic efficiency in the xylem remained constant, but external structures adjusted with stomatal conductance.
- Decreased interveinal distance acropetally shortened the water path from vascular bundles to stomata, correlating with increased stomatal conductance.
Conclusions:
- Leaf anatomical modifications, specifically reduced water path length to stomata, drive increased gas exchange along grass blades.
- The distance from vascular bundles to stomata is a key factor influencing stomatal conductance within individual grass leaves, mirroring inter-species correlations.