Diurnal changes in leaf stomatal resistances were measured on leaf positions and both surfaces to investigate the stomatal response to irradiance in wheat, var. Chokwang and barley, var. Dongbori 1. Stomatal frequency and size were also determined to explain the control mechanism of gas exchanges in two species. The leaf diffusive resistances of two species decreased, as the sun rose, to minimum at 10 to 11 o'clock a.m. and increased gradually in the afternoon, even faster at sunset. As the adaxial irradiance increased, stomatal resistances decreased sensitively in the range of 30uEm-2 ㆍsec-1 to 150uEm-2 ㆍsec-1 quantum flux density. The stomatal opening of the abaxial surface began at lower irradiance and was completed earlier than the adaxial surface. The adaxial irradiances decreased in order of leaf position, flag, the 2nd, the 3rd leaf, and the stomatal resistances increased in the same order. Even under the same irradiance, the stomatal resistance of lower leaves were higher than those of upper leaves. The stomatal frequencies of lower leaves were less, but the stomatal size was greater than those of upper leaves. Consequently, the relative leaf area occupied by stomatal pores were constant among leaf positions in two species.