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Updated: May 4, 2026

Relating Stomatal Conductance to Leaf Functional Traits
Published on: October 12, 2015
Active chloride transport in the leaf epidermis of Commelina communis in relation to stomatal activity
M G Penny1, L S Kelday, D J Bowling
1Department of Botany, University of Aberdeen, AB9 2UD, Aberdeen, UK.
Abstract:
A chloride selective micro-electrode has been used to determine vacuolar chloride concentrations in individual cells of the leaf epidermis of Commelina communis. When the stomata were open a gradient in chloride concentration across the stomatal complex was observed with the highest concentration in the guard cells. On stomatal closure the chloride gradient was reversed. Calculation of the driving forces on chloride indicated that active transport of chloride was occurring during both stomatal opening and closure. This transport appeared to be energetically independent of the transport of potassium. These results are discussed in relation to the behaviour of other anions during stomatal movements.
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