Moderate Relative Air Humidity Research Articles

Blue Light Improves Stomatal Function and Dark-Induced Closure of Rose Leaves (Rosa x hybrida) Developed at High Air Humidity.

Plants developed under constant high (>85%) relative air humidity (RH) have larger stomata that are unable to close completely in response to closing stimuli. Roses (Rosa x hybrida) developed in high RH have previously been shown to have high water loss during leaf dehydration and reduced dark-induced closure resulting in a shorter postharvest life. In this study, the effect of B-light on stomatal function under high RH conditions was investigated. The ability of rose leaves developed under continuous high (90%) or moderate (60%) RH to close their stomata in response to darkness and leaf dehydration assay was studied. Moreover, the level and regulation of ABA in light and darkness in relation to B-light was measured. Our results show that increased B-light proportion improved stomatal function and dark-induced stomatal closure under high RH conditions and that was associated with increased [ABA] in general and a dynamic ABA peak during darkness. Furthermore, increased B-light during the day was associated with the presence of high β-glucosidase activity during night. This indicates that B-light is important as a signal to activate the β-glucosidase enzyme and release ABA during night. Altogether, the improved stomatal function and reduced transpiration in combination with increased [ABA] indicate that preharvest B-light plays an important role in governing stomatal functionality and ABA homeostasis under high RH and can be a useful method to improve postharvest water balance of roses.

Stomatal conductance bears no correlation with transpiration rate in wheat during their diurnal variation under high air humidity.

A good understanding of the response of photosynthesis rate (PN) and transpiration rate (Tr) to stomatal alteration during the diurnal variations is important to cumulative photosynthetic production and water loss of crops. Six wheat genotypes were studied for 2 years with pot cultivation in rain-shelter. Among different genotypes, stomatal conductance (gs) was significantly correlated with both PN and Tr. But for each genotype, though gs was significantly correlated with PN regardless of relative air humidity (RH) status and it was also significantly correlated with Tr under lower RH (LRH, 15.4%) and moderate RH (MRH, 28.3%), it was not correlated with Tr under higher RH (HRH, 36.7%) during the diurnal changes. The conditional correlation between gs and Tr of wheat evoked new thinking on the relationships among gs, PN and Tr. Path analysis was further carried out to clarify the correlations of gs with the four atmospheric factors, that of Tr with gs and the four factors and the direct and indirect effects of the factors, during their diurnal dynamic variation. The effects of these factors on gs or Tr were related to RH. All the four factors had a much higher correlation with gs under HRH than that under LRH and MRH. Air temperature (T) had a rather higher direct effect than RH and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Also, the other factors had a much higher indirect effect on gs through vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and T. Transpiration rate was highly correlated with gs under LRH and MRH, with gs having a higher direct effect on it. In comparison, Tr was not correlated with gs under HRH but highly correlated with the atmospheric factors, with T, RH, and PAR having a higher indirect effect through VPD.

The transpiration characteristics and heat dissipation analysis of natural leaves grown in different climatic environments

Because vegetation is one of the typical backgrounds on land, it is necessary to investigate the transpiration characteristics and heat dissipation processes of the leaves grown in different natural environments to optimize the thermal infrared camouflage performance of the bionic materials for countering the thermal infrared detection. Considering ambient temperature and relative air humidity as the dominant environmental factors, daily transpiration rates of various kinds of leaves grown in Wuxi (summer and winter, moderate relative air humidity) and Xishuangbanna (summer, high relative air humidity) were measured respectively, and a thermophysical model was established to investigate the heat dissipation processes of the leaves. Results show that the average daily transpiration rates of the leaves are 1.42, 0.42 and 0.92 kg/m2∙day in Wuxi summer, Wuxi winter and Xishuangbanna summer respectively, indicating that the daily transpiration rates vary significantly with different environments. In Wuxi summer and winter, the daily transpirative heat flow accounts for approximately 55.8% and 24.3% of the total heat dissipation of the Cinnamomum camphora leaves respectively, revealing the significant effect of the transpirative heat transfer on the temperature of the leaves grown in the environment of high ambient temperature and the weakened effect in the environment of low ambient temperature. In Xishuangbanna summer, the daily transpirative heat flow accounts for approximately 37.3% of the total heat dissipation of the Ailanthus leaf, which is significantly lower than that in Wuxi summer, indicating that relative air humidity also dominates the effect of transpirative heat transfer on the temperature of the leaves.

UV radiation as a tool to control growth, morphology and transpiration of poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ) in variable aerial environments

Abstract Greenhouse production of poinsettia calls for strict control of morphological parameters, which may be achieved through the use of chemical growth retardants. Use of such chemicals is becoming restricted thus alternative methods for growth control are needed. Here the effects of UV radiation were tested on Euphorbia pulcherrima (Willd ex. Klotzch) in controlled environment under moderate (60%) and high (90%) relative air humidity (RH), to determine the potential to control plant morphology. Vegetative plants (‘Christmas Feelings’) received UV during the dark period, while two generative cultivars, one strong growing phenotype ‘Infinity Red’ (‘IR’) and one more compact phenotype ‘Bravo Bright Red’ (‘BBR’), received UV at the end of the light period (EOD). The morphology of vegetative plants was mainly affected by RH rather than UV radiation. Generative plants were also strongly affected by RH, though both cultivars showed reduced plant diameter, shoot biomass, leaf area, and bract area when exposed to UV, as well as increased leaf chlorophyll content, though responses to UV were stronger in moderate RH compared to high RH. Transpiration of leaves and bracts was mainly affected by RH not UV, and photosynthesis and production time were not affected by either RH or UV. We conclude that UV radiation is a potential tool to grow more compact plants, though its effects are partially determined by the aerial environment.

Ethylene is involved in high air humidity promoted stomatal opening of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves.

High relative air humidity (RH) promotes stomatal opening in tomato leaves. This study examined the role of the plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene in high RH induced stomatal opening. Plants were grown in high (90%) and moderate (60%) RH or transferred from moderate to high RH. ABA levels were only slightly, but significantly decreased during darkness by increasing RH. However, a significantly higher ethylene evolution was found in high RH compared with moderate RH. Ethephon increased conductance and stomatal aperture in moderate RH. Treatment with amino-ethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) suppressed stomatal opening when plants were transferred from moderate to high RH. Similarly, blocking the ethylene receptor or using an ethylene-insensitive mutant (NR) reduced the response to high RH. These results demonstrate that both ethylene production and sensitivity play a role in high RH-induced stomatal opening in tomato leaves. The increased conductance found when plants were transferred to high RH could be counteracted by exogenous ABA spray. The ABA deficient mutant 'Flacca' produced high levels of ethylene irrespective of the RH and the difference in water loss and conductance between high and moderate grown 'Flacca' plants was attenuated compared with WT. The results indicate that both ABA and ethylene play a role in air humidity control of stomatal movement in tomato.

ABA induces H2O2 production in guard cells, but does not close the stomata on Vicia faba leaves developed at high air humidity

Plants developed under constant high (> 85%) relative air humidity (RH) have larger stomata that are unable to close completely. One of the hypotheses for the less responsive stomata is that the plants have reduced sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). Both ABA and darkness are signals for stomatal closure and induce the production of the secondary messenger hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In this study, the ability of Vicia faba plants developed in moderate or high RH to close the stomata in response to darkness, ABA and H2O2 was investigated. Moreover, the ability of the plants to produce H2O2 when treated with ABA or transferred to darkness was also assessed. Our results show that the ABA concentration in moderate RH is not increased during darkness even though the stomata are closing. This indicates that stomatal closure in V. faba during darkness is independent of ABA production. ABA induced both H2O2 production and stomatal closure in stomata formed at moderate RH. H2O2 production, as a result of treatment with ABA, was also observed in stomata formed at high RH, though the closing response was considerably smaller as compared with moderate RH. In either RH, leaf ABA concentration was not affected by darkness. Similarly to ABA treatment, darkness elicited both H2O2 production and stomatal closure following plant cultivation at moderate RH. Contrary to this, neither H2O2 production nor stomatal closure took place when stomata were formed at high RH. These results suggest that the reduced stomatal response in plants developed in continuous high RH is caused by one or more factors downstream of H2O2 in the signaling pathway toward stomatal closure.

Foliar abscisic acid content underlies genotypic variation in stomatal responsiveness after growth at high relative air humidity

Stomata formed at high relative air humidity (RH) respond less to abscisic acid (ABA), an effect that varies widely between cultivars. This study tested the hypotheses that this genotypic variation in stomatal responsiveness originates from differential impairment in intermediates of the ABA signalling pathway during closure and differences in leaf ABA concentration during growth. Stomatal anatomical features and stomatal responsiveness to desiccation, feeding with ABA, three transduction elements of its signalling pathway (H2O2, NO, Ca(2+)) and elicitors of these elements were determined in four rose cultivars grown at moderate (60 %) and high (90 %) RH. Leaf ABA concentration was assessed throughout the photoperiod and following mild desiccation (10 % leaf weight loss). Stomatal responsiveness to desiccation and ABA feeding was little affected by high RH in two cultivars, whereas it was considerably attenuated in two other cultivars (thus termed sensitive). Leaf ABA concentration was lower in plants grown at high RH, an effect that was more pronounced in the sensitive cultivars. Mild desiccation triggered an increase in leaf ABA concentration and equalized differences between leaves grown at moderate and high RH. High RH impaired stomatal responses to all transduction elements, but cultivar differences were not observed. High RH resulted in decreased leaf ABA concentration during growth as a result of lack of water deficit, since desiccation induced ABA accumulation. Sensitive cultivars underwent a larger decrease in leaf ABA concentration rather than having a higher ABA concentration threshold for inducing stomatal functioning. However, cultivar differences in stomatal closure following ABA feeding were not apparent in response to H2O2 and downstream elements, indicating that signalling events prior to H2O2 generation are involved in the observed genotypic variation.

Smaller stomata require less severe leaf drying to close: A case study in Rosa hydrida

Stomata formed at high relative air humidity (RH) close less as leaf dries; an effect that varies depending on the genotype. We here quantified the contribution of each stomatal response characteristic to the higher water loss of high RH-grown plants, and assessed the relationship between response characteristics and intraspecific variation in stomatal size. Stomatal size (length multiplied by width), density and responsiveness to desiccation, as well as pore dimensions were analyzed in ten rose cultivars grown at moderate (60%) or high (85%) RH. Leaf morphological components and transpiration at growth conditions were also assessed. High growth RH resulted in thinner (11%) leaves with larger area. A strong positive genetic correlation of daytime and nighttime transpiration at either RH was observed. Stomatal size determined pore area (r=0.7) and varied by a factor of two, as a result of proportional changes in length and width. Size and density of stomata were not related. Following desiccation, high RH resulted in a significantly lower (6–19%) decline of transpiration in three cultivars, whereas the relative water content (RWC) of high RH-expanded leaflets was lower (29–297%) in seven cultivars. The lower RWC of these leaflets was caused by (a) higher (33–72%) stable transpiration and/or (b) lower (12–143%) RWC at which this stable transpiration occurred, depending on the cultivar. Stomatal size was significantly correlated with both characteristics (r=0.5 and -0.7, respectively). These results indicate that stomatal size explains much of the intraspecific variation in the regulation of transpiration upon water deprivation on rose.

A comprehensive analysis of the physiological and anatomical components involved in higher water loss rates after leaf development at high humidity

To better understand the poor regulation of water loss after leaf development at high relative air humidity (RH), the relative importance of the physiological and anatomical components was analyzed focusing on cultivars with a contrasting sensitivity to elevated RH. The stomatal responsiveness to three closing stimuli (desiccation, abscisic acid feeding, light/dark transition), as well as several stomatal features (density, index, size and pore dimensions) and the cuticular transpiration rate (CTR) were determined in four rose cultivars, grown under moderate (60%) and high (95%) RH. Moreover, the effects of changes in stomatal density and pore dimensions on the stomatal conductance (gs) were quantified using a modified version of the Brown and Escombe equation. Higher water loss, as a result of plant growth at high RH, was primarily caused by an increase in residual gs, and to a lesser extent due to higher CTR. It was estimated that in leaflets subjected to desiccation the enhanced gs in high RH- as compared to moderate RH-grown plants was mostly due to poor stomatal functionality and to a lesser extent the combined result of higher stomatal density and longer pore length. It is concluded that the reduced degree and, specially, the reduced rate of stomatal closure are the primary causes of the large genotypic variation in the control of water loss in high RH-grown plants. Furthermore, it was found that although changes in stomatal length have no influence on stomatal functionality, changed anatomical features per se represent a significant and direct contribution to the increased water loss.

High relative air humidity and continuous light reduce stomata functionality by affecting the ABA regulation in rose leaves

Plants developed under high (90%) relative air humidity (RH) have previously been shown to have large, malfunctioning stomata, which results in high water loss during desiccation and reduced dark induced closure. Stomatal movement is to a large extent regulated by abscisic acid (ABA). It has therefore been proposed that low ABA levels contribute to the development of malfunctioning stomata. In this study, we investigated the regulation of ABA content in rose leaves, through hormone analysis and β-glucosidase quantification. Compared with high RH, rose plants developed in moderate RH (60%) and 20 h photoperiod contained higher levels of ABA and β-glucosidase activity. Also, the amount of ABA increased during darkness simultaneously as the ABA-glucose ester (GE) levels decreased. In contrast, plants developed under high RH with 20 h photoperiod showed no increase in ABA levels during darkness, and had low β-glucosidase activity converting ABA-GE to ABA. Continuous lighting (24 h) resulted in low levels of β-glucosidase activity irrespective of RH, indicating that a dark period is essential to activate β-glucosidase. Our results provide new insight into the regulation of ABA under different humidities and photoperiods, and clearly show that β-glucosidase is a key enzyme regulating the ABA pool in rose plants.

Postharvest water relations in cut rose cultivars with contrasting sensitivity to high relative air humidity during growth

A constant high relative air humidity (RH) during cultivation can strongly reduce the vase life in some cut rose cultivars. We studied three contrasting cultivars in their tolerance to high RH in order to analyse in detail the water relations during postharvest and better understand this genotypic variation. Plants were grown at moderate (60%) and high (95%) RH, and cut flowers were placed in water immediately after cutting. Flowers of cv. Pink Prophyta grown at high RH did not open throughout vase life, while flower opening of cvs. Frisco and Dream was not affected by preharvest RH. Cultivation at high RH resulted in about 80% shorter vase life in Pink Prophyta, whereas in Dream and Frisco the negative effect was considerably smaller (15 and 9% shorter vase life, respectively). The shorter vase life and reduced flower opening of cut roses grown at high RH was due to a higher rate of transpiration both in the light and dark periods. It was found that the leaves of Pink Prophyta grown at high RH could partly close their stomata upon lowering of the water potential or when flower stalks were fed with abscisic acid, but stomata remained far more open than in leaves grown at moderate RH. The RH during cultivation did not affect stem hydraulic conductivity and its recovery after air emboli induction. Preventing vascular occlusion largely alleviated the high-cultivation-RH effect on vase life and flower opening, showing that the effect of high-cultivation-RH becomes only important if water uptake is limited.

The role of abscisic acid in disturbed stomatal response characteristics of Tradescantia virginiana during growth at high relative air humidity

In this study, the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in altered stomatal responses of Tradescantia virginiana leaves grown at high relative air humidity (RH) was investigated. A lower ABA concentration was found in leaves grown at high RH compared with leaves grown at moderate RH. As a result of a daily application of 20 microM ABA to leaves for 3 weeks during growth at high RH, the stomata of ABA-treated leaves grown at high RH showed the same behaviour as did the stomata of leaves grown at moderate RH. For example, they closed rapidly when exposed to desiccation. Providing a high RH around a single leaf of a plant during growth at moderate RH changed the stomatal responses of this leaf. The stomata in this leaf grown at high RH did not close completely in response to desiccation in contrast to the stomata of the other leaves from the same plant. The ABA concentration on a fresh weight basis, though not on a dry weight basis, of this leaf was significantly lower than that of the others. Moreover, less closure of stomata was found in the older leaves of plants grown at high RH in response to desiccation compared with younger leaves. This was correlated with a lower ABA concentration in these leaves on a fresh weight basis, though not on a dry weight basis. Stomata of leaves grown at moderate RH closed in response to short-term application of ABA or sodium nitroprusside (SNP), while for leaves grown at high RH there was a clear difference in stomatal responses between the leaf margins and main-vein areas. The stomatal aperture in response to short-term application of ABA or SNP at the leaf margins of leaves grown at high RH remained significantly wider than in the main-vein areas. It was concluded that: (i) a long-term low ABA concentration in well-watered plants during growth at high RH could be a reason for less or no stomatal closure under conditions of drought stress; and (ii) the long-term ABA concentration on a fresh weight basis rather than on a dry weight basis is likely to be responsible for structural or physiological changes in stomata during leaf growth.

Dynamics of spatial heterogeneity of stomatal closure in Tradescantia virginiana altered by growth at high relative air humidity

The spatial heterogeneity of stomatal closure in response to rapid desiccation of excised well-watered Tradescantia virginiana leaves grown at moderate (55%) or high (90%) relative air humidity (RH) was studied using a chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system under non-photorespiratory conditions. Following rapid desiccation, excised leaves grown at high RH had both a greater heterogeneity and a higher average value of PSII efficiency (Phi(PSII)) compared with leaves grown at moderate RH. Larger decreases in relative water content resulted in smaller decreases in water potential and Phi(PSII) of high RH-grown leaves compared with moderate RH-grown leaves. Moreover, the Phi(PSII) of excised high RH-grown leaves decreased less with decreasing water potential, implying that the stomata of high RH-grown leaves are less sensitive to decreases in leaf water potential compared with moderate RH-grown leaves. After desiccation, some non-closing stomata were distributed around the main vein in high RH-grown leaves. Direct measurements of stomatal aperture showed 77% stomatal closure in the margins after 2 h desiccation compared with 40% closure of stomata in the main-vein areas in high RH-grown leaves. Faster closure of stomata in leaf margins compared with main-vein areas of leaves grown at high RH was related to substantially lower relative water content in these areas of the leaves.

Stomatal response characteristics of Tradescantia virginiana grown at high relative air humidity

Plants produced at high relative air humidity (RH) show poor control of water loss after transferring to low RH, a phenomenon which is thought to be due to their stomatal behaviour. The stomatal anatomy and responses of moderate (55%) and high (90%) RH grown Tradescantia virginiana plants to treatments that normally induce stomatal closure, i.e. desiccation, abscisic acid (ABA) application and exposure to darkness were studied using attached or detached young, fully expanded leaves. Compared with plants grown at moderate RH the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and aperture of high RH grown plants measured at the same condition (40% RH) were, respectively, 112, 139 and 132% in light and 141, 188 and 370% in darkness. Besides the differences in stomatal size (guard cell length was 56.7 and 73.3 µm for moderate and high RH grown plants, respectively), there was a clear difference in stomatal behaviour. The stomata responded to desiccation, ABA and darkness in both moderate and high RH grown plants, but the high variability of stomatal closure in high RH grown plants was striking. Some stomata developed at high RH closed in response to darkness or to a decrease in relative water content to the same extent as did stomata from moderate RH grown plants, whereas others closed only partly or did not close at all. Evidently, some as yet unidentified physiological or anatomical changes during development disrupt the normal functioning of some stomata in leaves grown at high RH. The failure of some stomata to close fully in response to ABA suggests that ABA deficiency was not responsible for the lack of stomatal closure in response to desiccation.

Effects of air humidity and K/Ca ratio in the nutrient supply on growth and postharvest characteristics of cut roses

Single node cuttings with one mature leaf were taken from the rose cv. Baroness and rooted in water culture. The rooted plants were grown in nutrient solutions and subjected to two levels of relative air humidity (RH): high (90%) and moderate (70%), in combination with high (12/1), medium (1/1) and low (1/5) K/Ca ratios in the nutrient solution. High RH plants accumulated less Ca in leaves and flowers than moderate RH plants. Roses grown at moderate RH had a longer postharvest life than high RH roses, irrespective of the K/Ca ratio of the nutrient solution. In general, a high K/Ca ratio had a negative impact on postharvest life. When grown at a high K/Ca ratio the ornamental value declined rapidly, mainly due to the appearance of necrotic petals as well as chlorotic and necrotic areas on the leaves. Bent neck occurred only with high RH plants but changes in the K/Ca ratio had no differential effect. Dry spots and brittle leaves were observed on high RH roses, and the occurrence increased with increased K/Ca ratio in the nutrient solution. Stomatal conductance increased in parallel with increases in RH and K/Ca ratio when measured on intact roses placed in dry air (40% RH).

Water loss and postharvest characteristics of cut roses grown at high or moderate relative air humidity

Single node cuttings with one mature leaf were taken from the rose cv. Baroness and rooted in water culture. The rooted stems were kept in water culture and subjected to one of the two levels of relative air humidity (RH) (high: 90%, moderate: 70%) in climate chambers. Morphological characteristics, dry weight (DW), osmotic concentration, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin content in the pedicel and vase life behavior were studied, as well as water loss. Only negligible differences in growth and morphology were found. No clear difference in lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose content in pedicels was found between moderate and high RH grown roses. Uncontrolled water loss was characteristic for leaves from high RH roses. Base treatment with AgNO 3 improved vase life of high RH roses from 7 to 12 days. Moderate RH roses lasted on average 15.5 days, and vase life was only slightly improved with the use of AgNO 3. Preservative solutions caused crispy areas between the veins and brittle leaves on roses grown at high but not at moderate RH. A 10% lower osmotic concentration in leaves and flowers was found in roses grown at high RH, as compared to moderate RH. It is concluded that the shorter postharvest life of high RH flowers is mainly due to malfunctioning stomata.