Maize stomatal responses against the climate change

Area of Science:

• Plant Physiology
• Climate Change Biology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Climate change is increasing drought and heat stress, significantly limiting global crop productivity.
• Maize, a major global grain crop, is highly vulnerable to these abiotic stresses, causing substantial yield losses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of stomatal regulation of gas exchange in maintaining maize yield under climate change.
• To understand how maize copes with combined drought and heat stress through stomatal responses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of stomatal traits (size, pore area, density) in response to drought and heat.
• Exploration of the molecular regulation of stomatal development (ZmSHR1, ZmSPCHs/ZmICE1) under stress conditions.
• Assessment of the impact of elevated CO2 on maize yield under drought.

Main Results:

• Maize reduces stomatal size and pore area while increasing stomatal density to cope with drought, lowering transpiration and photosynthesis.
• Heat exacerbates drought stress effects on stomata; ZmSHR1 may regulate stomatal density via ZmSPCHs/ZmICE1 to prevent heat damage.
• Elevated CO2 levels mitigate yield losses only under mild drought conditions.

Conclusions:

• Stomatal regulation is a key mechanism for maize yield resilience against climate change-induced drought and heat.
• Understanding these physiological and developmental responses is crucial for predicting future maize yields and informing crop management strategies.