Hydroactive stomata: a key innovation underpinning angiosperm ecological dominance

Javier Pichaco1, Celia M Rodriguez-Dominguez1, Antonio Diaz-Espejo1

  • 1Plant Ecophysiology and Irrigation (ECOVER) Group, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain.

Trends in Plant Science
|August 14, 2026
PubMed
Summary

The hydroactive stomatal mechanism, driven by abscisic acid, allowed flowering plants (angiosperms) to thrive by rapidly balancing water use and carbon gain. This vital innovation improved physiological coordination for climate resilience.

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