Summary
The level of malate in the epidermis from illuminated leaves of Vicia faba was greater than in that from dark-treated leaves. A difference in the malate level was still detected after the epidermis had been treated by rolling so that only the guard cells remained alive. The results suggest that malate may accumulate in guard cells on illumination. In subsequent experiments, stomatal apertures were measured, and potassium as well as malate was analysed in extracts of epidermis. In illuminated leaves, the potassium content of rolled epidermis increased from about 90 to about 335 picoequivalents mm-2 of epidermis whele malate increased from about zero to about 71 pmoles mm-2 and the stomata opened; in dark-treated leaves, the potassium content of rolled epidermis decreased slightly, the malate level remained about zero, and the stomata showed very slight further closure. The measured increase in potassium is likely to represent an increase in potassium concentration in the guard cells of about 0.4 Eq l-1 with stomatal opening; the increase in malate could correspond to 0.23 Eq l-1 (with respect to potassium) in the guard cells. Thus, malate accumulating in guard cells could balance about half of the potassium taken up by guard cells when stomata open in the light.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allaway, W. G., Hsiao, T. C.: Preparation of rolled epidermis of Vicia faba L. so that stomata are the only viable cells: analysis of guard cell potassium by flame photometry. Aust. J. biol. Sci. 26, in press (1973).
Allaway, W. G., Setterfield, G.: Ultrastructural observations on guard cells of Vicia faba and Allium porrum. Canad. J. Bot. 56, 1405–1413 (1972).
Benson, A. A., Calvin, M.: The path of carbon in photosynthesis. VII. Respiration and photosynthesis. J. exp. Bot. 1, 63–68 (1950).
Fischer, R. A.: Stomatal opening: role of potassium uptake by guard cells. Science 160, 784–785 (1968).
Fujino, M.: Role of adenosinetriphosphate and adenosinetriphosphatase in stomatal movement. Sci. Bull. Fac. Educ. Nagasaki Univ. 18, 1–47 (1967).
Hatch, M. D., Slack, C. R.: The C4-dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis. Progr. in Phytochemistry 2, 35–106 (1970).
Heath, O. V. S.: Light and carbon dioxide in stomatal movements. Handbuch der Pflanzenphysiologie, W. Ruhland, ed., vol. 17, pt. 1, pp. 415–464. Berlin-Heidelberg-Göttingen: Springer 1959.
Hohorst, H.-J.: l-(-)-Malate. Determination with malic dehydrogenase and DPN. In: Methods of enzymatic analysis, p. 328–334, Burgmeyer, H. U., ed. New York-London: Acad. Press 1965.
Hsiao, T. C., Allaway, W. G., Evans, L. T.: Action spectra for guard cell Rb+ uptake and stomatal opening in Vicia faba. Plant Physiol., in press.
Humble, G. D., Raschke, K.: Stomatal opening quantitatively related to potassium transport. Evidence from electron probe analysis. Plant Physiol. 48, 447–453 (1971).
Meidner, H., Mansfield, T. A.: Physiology of stomata. London: McGraw-Hill 1968.
Miroslavov, E. A.: On the peculiar structures in the plastids of the guard cells of the leaf of Vicia faba L. Bot. Zh. 51, 982–983 (1966).
Pallas, J. E., Mollenhauer, H. H.: Physiological implications of Vicia faba and Nicotiana tabacum guard-cell ultrastructure. Amer. J. Bot. 59, 504–514 (1972).
Palmer, M. J., Bacon, J. S. D.: The effect of illumination on the malic acid content and anion/cation balance of mustard leaves (Sinapis alba). Biochem. J. 102, 304–312 (1967).
Ranson, S. L., Thomas, M.: Crassulacean acid metabolism. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 11, 81–110 (1960).
Raschke, K., Fellows, M. P.: Stomatal movement in Zea mays shuttle of potassium and chloride between guard cells and subsidiary cells. Planta (Berl.) 101, 296–316 (1971).
Sawhney, B. L., Zelitch, I.: Direct determination of potassium ion accumulation in guard cells in relation to stomatal opening in light. Plant Physiol. 44, 1350–1354 (1969).
Stutz, R. E., Burris, R. H.: Photosynthesis and metabolism of organic acids in higher plants. Plant Physiol. 26, 226–243 (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Allaway, W.G. Accumulation of malate in guard cells of Vicia faba during stomatal opening. Planta 110, 63–70 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386923
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386923