Stomatal dynamics: a modeling study revisiting miscellaneous
experimental phenomena
Abstract
Stomata are the key nodes linking photosynthesis and transpiration. By
regulating the opening degree of stomata, plants successively achieve
the balance between water loss and carbon dioxide acquisition. The
dynamic behavior of stomata is an important cornerstone of plant
adaptability. Though there have been miscellaneous experimental results
on stomata and their constituent cells, the guard cells and the
subsidiary cells, current theory of stomata regulation is far from clear
and unified. In this work, we develop an integrated model to describe
the stomatal dynamics of seed plants based on existing experimental
results. The model includes three parts: 1) a passive mechanical model
of the stomatal aperture as a bivariate function of the guard-cell and
the subsidiary-cell turgor pressures; 2) an active regulation model with
a targeted ion-content in guard cells as a function of their water
potential; and 3) a dynamical model for the movement of potassium ions
and water content. Our model has been used to reproduce different
experimental phenomena semi and stomatal responses to environment
conditions.