Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Stomata Tape-Peel: An Improved Method for Guard Cell Sample Preparation
Published on: July 15, 2018
Postinvasive Bacterial Resistance Conferred by Open Stomata in Rice
Dandan Zhang1,2, Caijuan Tian1, Kangquan Yin1
11 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; and.
Abstract:
Stomata are leaf pores that regulate gas exchange and water transpiration in response to environmental cues. They also function in innate immunity by limiting pathogen entry through actively closing in so-called stomatal defense. However, roles of stomata in plant disease resistance are not fully elucidated, especially in monocots. Here, we report that non-race specific resistance of the rice abscisic acid-deficient mutant Osaba1 to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is due to increased stomatal conductance. Reducing stomatal conductance in the Osaba1 mutant increases its susceptibility to X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Artificial opening of stomata in wild-type plants leads to enhanced resistance to X. oryzae pv. oryzae. The rice mutant es1-1 with constitutively higher stomatal conductance exhibits strong resistance to X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Additionally, Osaba1 and es1-1 are resistant to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. The data support that open stomata confer postinvasive resistance against bacterial pathogens in rice, and such resistance probably results from decreased leaf water potential. Our findings reveal a novel role of stomata in plant immunity through modulation of leaf water status, which provides physiological insight into the interactions between plant, pathogen, and environment.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
Bacterial Transformation
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Resistivity
Resistance
Equivalent Resistance
Resistance and Conductance
Various factors impact the resistance of a conductor. Spiraling in stranded conductors increases their...

