The effects of light and CO2 on the electrophysiological characteristics of guard cells in the intact leaf and isolated epidermis have been investigated. Fast hyperpolarization of guard cell apoplastic PD in the intact leaf was recorded reaching up to

The effects of different light quality on the change of membrane potential difference (PD) of the guard cell in the intact leaf have been investigated. The mombrane PD was about -5.5 mV by white light of 600 μmoles m-2 s-1. The mean PD of ch

3-weeks old Commelina was transferred to and grown in Hoagland solution (± 100 μM Cd2+, 100 μM Cd2+ ＋ 100μM Ca2+, 100 μM Cd2+ ＋ 200 μM EGTA) for two weeks and then a number of physiological activities

The effects of light and darkness on stomatal aperture and guard cell apoplastic pH in the intact leaf and in the isolated epidermal strips of Commelina communis have been investigated. Stomata in the intact leaf opened wide in the light. In contrast, sto

Many researchers have been studied with guard cell protoplasts and detached epidermis as they think that properly stabilized protoplasts and detached epidermis retain many of the properties of intact guard cells. However, some studies have shown that stom

The walls of guard cells have many specialized features. Guard cells are present in the leaves of bryophytes, ferns, and almost all vascular plants. However, they exhibit considerable morphological diversities. There are two types of guard cells: the first type is found in a few monocots, such as palms and corn, and the other is found in most dicots, many monocots, mosses, ferns, and gymnosperms. In corns, guard cells have a characteristic dumbbell shape with bulbous ends. Most dicot and monocot species have kidney-shaped guard cells that have an elliptical contour with a pore at its center. Although subsidiary cells are common in species with kidney-shaped stomata, they are almost always absent in most of the other plants. In this study, there were many different stomatal features that were associated with kidney-shaped guard cells, but not dumbbell shaped guard cells, which are present in most grasses, such as cereals. Each plant investigated exhibited different characteristic features and most of these plants had kidney-shaped guard cells. However, the guard cells of Chamaesyce supina Mold, were often more rectangular than kidney-shaped. In contrast, Sedum sarmentosum guard cells were of the sink ensiform type and in Trifolium repens, the guard cells exhibited a more rhombic shape. Therefore, kidney-shaped guard cells could be divided into a number of subtypes that need to be investigated further.

The effect of CO2 on the opening of stomata in the intact leaf of Commelina communis has been investigated. Full opening of stomatal apertures(around 18 μm) was achieved in the intact leaf by addition of CO2(900 μmol mol-1). At 90 minutes, the stomatal apertures of leaves treated with CO2 free air were reduced. In contrast, stomata opened most widely with the treatment of CO2 air at 90 minutes. The effects of light, CO2 air and CO2 free air on the change of membrane potential difference(PD) were measured. Fast hyperpolarization of guard cell membrane PD was recorded reaching up to -12 mV in response to light. If CO2 free air was given firstly, there was no response. When light was given after CO2 free air, the light effect was very clear. At the onset of CO2 air, the PD showed a dramatic hyperpolarization to about -25 mV. Changes in the pH of apoplast in intact leaves in response to CO2 air were observed. CO2 air caused a change of 0.4 pH unit. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that CO2 flowing could stimulate proton efflux which is a necessary precursor of stomatal opening.

3-weeks old Commelina was transferred to and grown in Hoagland solution (Control, 100μM Cd2+, 100μM Cd2++100μM IAA, 100μM Cd2++100μM IAA+2 mM sucrose) for 3 weeks and then the effects of indole acetic acid (IAA) on the accumulation of Cd2+ and growth of Cd2+-treated Commelina were investigated. In the treatment of Cd2+, Cd2+ was uptaked to 1.74, and 51.36 μg/g frwt. at the first week, but for three weeks, 0.51 and 34.53 μg/g frwt. in leaf and stem respectively. When IAA was treated along with Cd2+, Cd2+ was uptaked to 0.18 and 8.63 μg/g frwt. at the first week, and for the incubation of 3 weeks, 0.51 and 45.0 μg/g frwt. in leaf and stem. In case of Cd2++IAA+sucrose, Cd2+ was uptaked to 1.45 and 18.33 μg/g frwt. at the first week, but for 3 weeks, 0.51 and 25.45 μg/g frwt. in leaf and stem. Likewise Cd2+ uptake, the growth was also affected by Cd2+ and IAA. During the incubation of 3 weeks, Cd2+ reduced the stem growth about 8% in all weeks, but the treatment of IAA recovered the inhibition of stem growth caused by Cd2+ to the degree of the control Therefore, it could be concluded that IAA altered the pattern of Cd2+ uptake and the growth which were supposed to change Cd2+ toxicity.

The mechanism of stomatal closing in response to O_3 was indirectly investigated by using H_2O_2 which is the intermediate product of O_3 metabolites. Stomata in epidermal strips close in response to H_2O_2. The effect of H_2O_2 on stomatal closing was dependent on the concentration of H_2O_2. 10 ppm H_2O_2 showed a clear effect on stomatal closing and 1000 ppm H_2O_2 induced complete stomatal closing after the treatment of 3 hours. Stomatal closing by H_2O_2 in intact leaf was also observed by measuring the diffusion resistance with porometer. It was found that the stomatal closing by H_2O_2 was not mediated by Ca^2+, and that was a different result observed in stomatal closing by water stress. Reversely, Ca^2+, showed a great inhibition on stomatal closing. The leakage of K^+ in epidermal strips was doubled in response to H_2O_2 when it was campared to the control. 10 ppm H_2O_2 decreased photosynthetic activity. Fv/Fm representing the activity of Photosystem Ⅱ was reduced about 4 % in 10 ppm H_20_2 and 8 % in 100 ppm H_2O_2 in the treatment of 1.5 hour. However, stomatal closing by 10 ppm H_2O_2 was reduced about 56 %. Accordingly, it can be suggetsted that stomatal closing by H_2O_2 is related with the decrease of photosynthetic activity, but it was chiefly induced by the change of the membrane permeability.