Review on the biophysical and molecular mechanisms that control the movements of stomatal pores.

What is it about?

Stomata are small pores in the surface of leaves and stems, which enable the exchange of gasses between plants and the atmosphere. The main function of these pores is to enable uptake of CO2 for photosynthesis, but they also provide a pathway for transpiration of water. Consequently, most plants open stomata in the light and close these pores during drought. In this review we discuss the biophysical mechanisms that cause opening and closure of the stomata, as well as the molecular mechanisms that regulate these responses. Emphasis in given on new insights in responses of stomata to the drought hormone ABA, the carbon source CO2, and conserved molecules of microbial pathogens.

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Why is it important?

Stomata provide the main pathway by which plants take up CO2 and release water. These pores are not only important for plant growth, but they also affect the efficiency by which plants fix the greenhouse gas CO2 and the availability of water on a global scale. For this reason, our understanding of the way by which stomata are regulated will enable us to make better estimations of climate changes and open up new ways of breeding crop plants with a lower demand for fresh water.

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