Stomata response to changes in temperature and humidity in wheat cultivars grown under contrasting climatic conditions

Abstract

Stomatal response to changes in temperature and humidity was studied in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Iren’ cultivated under conditions of high water supply and cv. Kazakhstanskaya 10, which is relatively drought tolerant. Experiments were performed under both laboratory and field conditions. It was demonstrated that stomata of cv. Kazakhstanskaya 10 plants closed rapidly with reducing humidity (the response of the first type), whereas, in cv. Iren’, this response was less expressed and, under conditions of a high water content in soil, stomatal conductance could increase in response to reduced humidity (the response of the second type). At an increased stomatal conductance and transpiration, water content in cv. Iren’ plants was maintained due to the increase in hydraulic conductance and water inflow from the roots. A possible role of the first-type response (rapid stomata closure) for growth maintenance under drought and of the second-type response (a parallel increase in the stomatal and hydraulic conductance) for providing of rapid growth and high productivity under sufficient water supply is discussed. A possibility to use the type of stomata behavior for cultivar assessment is considered.