Stomatal vs. genome size in angiosperms: the somatic tail wagging the genomic dog?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Genome size is a function, and the product, of cell volume. As such it is contingent on ecological circumstance. The nature of 'this ecological circumstance' is, however, hotly debated. Here, we investigate for angiosperms whether stomatal size may be this 'missing link': the primary determinant of genome size. Stomata are crucial for photosynthesis and their size affects functional efficiency.

Methods

Stomatal and leaf characteristics were measured for 1442 species from Argentina, Iran, Spain and the UK and, using PCA, some emergent ecological and taxonomic patterns identified. Subsequently, an assessment of the relationship between genome-size values obtained from the Plant DNA C-values database and measurements of stomatal size was carried out.

Key

SUBMITTER: Hodgson JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2850795 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature