Summary
The stomata of plants growing in the Negev Desert, namely the stomata of the mesomorphic leaves of Prunus armeniaca, the xeromorphic stems of Hammada scoparia, and the succulent leaves of Zygophyllum dumosum, respond to changes in air humidity. Under dry air conditions diffusion resistance increases. Under moist air conditions diffusion resistance decreases. When the stomata close at low air humidity the water content of the apricot leaves increases. The stomata open at high air humidity in spite of a decrease in leaf water content. This excludes a reaction via the water potential in the leaf tissue and proves that the stomatal aperture has a direct response to the evaporative conditions in the atmosphere. In all species the response to air humidity is maintained over a period of many hours also when the soil is considerably dry. The response is higher in plants with poor water supply then in well watered plants. Thus for field conditions and for morphologically different types of photosynthesizing organs the results confirm former experiments carried out with isolated epidermal strips.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aubert, B., Čatský, J.: The onset of photosynthetic CO2 influx in banana leaf segments as related to stomatal diffusion resistance at different air humidities. Photosynthetica 4, 254–256 (1970).
Begg, J. E., Bierhuizen, J. F., Lemon, E.R., Misra, D. K., Slatyer, R. O., Stern, W. R.: Diurnal energy and water exchanges in bulrush millet in an area of high solar radiation. Agric. Met. 1, 294–312 (1964).
Bertsch, A., Domes, W.: CO2-Gaswechsel amphistomatischer Blätter. I. Der Einfluß unterschiedlicher Stomataverteilung der beiden Blattepidermen auf den CO2-Transport. Planta (Berl.) 85, 183–193 (1969).
Biebl, R.: Evaporation und Wassersättigungsdefizit einiger arktischer Pflanzen in Westgrönland. Öst. bot. Z. 116, 19–30 (1969).
Buschbom, U.: Zur Methodik kontinuierlicher Wassergehalt-Bestimmungen an Blättern mittels β-Strahlenabsorption. Planta (Berl.) 95, 146–166 (1970).
Drake, B.G., Raschke, K., Salisbury, F. B.: Temperatures and transpiration resistances of Xanthium leaves as affected by air temperature, humidity and wind speed. Plant Physiol. 46, 324–330 (1970).
Evenari, M., Shanan, L., Tadmor, N. H.: Runoff farming in the desert. I. Experimental layout. Agronomy J. 60, 29–32 (1968).
Evenari, M., Shanan, L., Tadmor, N. H.: The Negev, the challenge of a desert. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press 1971.
Gaastra, P.: Photosynthesis of crop plants as influenced by light, carbon dioxide, temperature and stomatal diffusion resistance. Meded. Landbouwhoogeschool Wageningen 59, 1–68 (1959)
Gäumann, E., Jaag, O.: Über die stomatäre Transpiration von Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.). Newm. Ber. dtsch. bot. Ges. 57, 2–20 (1939).
Klepper, B.: Diurnal pattern of water potential in woody plants. Plant Physiol. 43, 1931–1934 (1968).
Koch, W., Lange, O. L., Schulze, E.-D.: Ecophysiological investigations on wild and cultivated plants in the Negev Desert. I. Methods: A mobile laboratory for measuring carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange. Oecologia (Berl.) 8, 296–309 (1971).
Lange, O. L., Koch, W., Schulze, E.-D.: CO2-Gaswechsel und Wasserhaushalt von Pflanzen in der Negev-Wüste am Ende der Trockenzeit. Ber. dtsch. bot. Ges. 82, 39–61 (1969).
Lange, O. L., Lösch, R., Schulze, E.-D., Kappen, L.: Responses of stomata to changes in humidity. Planta (Berl.) 100, 76–86 (1971).
Lange, O. L., Schulze, E.-D.: Measurement of CO2 gas exchange and transpiration in the beech (Fagus silvatica L.). In: Ellenberg, H. (ed.), Integrated experimental ecology. Ecological Studies Vol. 2, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Leyerer, G., Stocker, O.: Über die Transpiration der Rutengewächse. Flora (Jena) 151, 1–43 (1961).
Maercker, U.: Zur Kenntnis der Transpiration der Schließzellen. Protoplasma (Wien) 60, 61–78 (1965).
Moreshet, S.: Effect of environmental factors on cuticular transpiration resistance. Plant Physiol. 48, 815–818 (1970).
Otto, H. W., Daines, R. H.: Plant injury by air pollutants: Influence of humidity on stomatal apertures and plant response to ozone. Science 163, 1209–1210 (1969).
Raschke, K.: Stomatal responses to pressure changes and interruptions in the water supply of detached leaves of Zea mays L. Plant Physiol. 45, 415–423 (1970).
Schulze, E.-D., Lange, O. L., Lembke, G.: A digital registration system for net photosynthesis and transpiration measurements in the field and an associated analysis of errors. Oecologia (Berl.). In press.
Seybold, A.: Ergebnisse und Probleme pflanzlicher Transpirationsanalysen. Jh. Heidelberger Akad. Wiss. 1961/62, 5–8.
Slatyer, R. O.: Plant water relationships. London-New York: Academic Press 1967.
Stocker, O.: Der Wasser- und Photosynthese-Haushalt von Wüstenpflanzen der mauretanischen Sahara. I. Regengrüne und immergrüne Bäume. Flora (Jena) 159, 539–572 (1970).
Tinklin, R., Bowling, D. J. F.: The water relations of bracken: A preliminary study. J. Ecol. 57, 667–671 (1969).
Tranquillini, W.: Die Abhängigkeit der Kohlensäureassimilation junger Lärchen, Fichten und Zirben von der Luft- und Bodenfeuchte. Versuche in einem klimatisierten Windkanal. Planta (Berl.) 60, 70–94 (1963).
Zohary, M.: Plant life of Palestine. New York: Ronald Press 1962.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schulze, ED., Lange, O.L., Buschbom, U. et al. Stomatal responses to changes in humidity in plants growing in the desert. Planta 108, 259–270 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384113
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384113