Stomatal Opening Involves Polar, Not Radial, Stiffening Of Guard Cells.

ABSTRACT: It has long been accepted that differential radial thickening of guard cells plays an important role in the turgor-driven shape changes required for stomatal pore opening to occur [1-4]. This textbook description derives from an original interpretation of structure rather than measurement of mechanical properties. Here we show, using atomic force microscopy, that although mature guard cells display a radial gradient of stiffness, this is not present in immature guard cells, yet young stomata show a normal opening response. Finite element modeling supports the experimental observation that radial stiffening plays a very limited role in stomatal opening. In addition, our analysis reveals an unexpected stiffening of the polar regions of the stomata complexes, both in Arabidopsis and other pla

SUBMITTER: Carter R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5640513 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature