Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,952 studies31 sourcesUpdated 36 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0The New Phytologist

Dual mechanisms give rise to biphasic stomatal opening in onion

  • Melissa Tomkins1
  • Matthew J. Wilson2
  • Jodie V. Armand2
  • Nathanael Y. H. Tan2
  • Briony Parker2
  • Julie E. Gray2
  • Andrew J. Fleming2
  • Richard J. Morris1
  • Richard S. Smith1
  1. 1Computational and Systems Biology John Innes Centre Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7UH UK
  2. 2Plants, Photosynthesis and Soils, School of Biosciences University of Sheffield Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN UK
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Stomata are controllable micropores on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Pore aperture adjustment is a mechanical process whereby changes in guard cell turgor drive changes in cell shape, resulting in stomatal opening or closure.

Previous computational models of kidney‐shaped stomata primarily relied on guard cells elongating upon turgor increase, a process dependent on cell wall properties, such as anisotropy in stiffness, strain‐stiffening, and polar fixing.

Finite element method simulations using experimentally derived 3D meshes from confocal imaging of Allium cepa (onion) suggest an alternative mechanism for opening that is largely due to changes in guard cell cross‐sectional shape. This mechanism does not rely on the assumptions for cell wall parameters required in previous models based on idealised geometries.

We propose that mechanical responsiveness of guard cells to turgor changes is determined by a combination of two processes: one dependent on shape and the other on wall material properties. This suggests the parameters governing guard cell dynamics can be viewed abstractly as a two‐dimensional (shape and material properties) ‘morphospace’, allowing multiple routes of shape adaptation to optimise gas exchange.

Related

  1. The Effect of Pretreatment and Hot-air Drying Parameters on the Drying Behavior and Quality Properties of Onion (Allium cepa L.)
    Hanif Maryam, Brahimi Amal, Boudboud Abdelhakim +4
    Journal of Food Chemistry and NanotechnologyPeer-reviewedLicence not statedFull textEnvironmental science & pollutionHAL
  2. Intercomparison of Four Stomatal Flux-Based Ozone Damage Schemes in CLM5.0 over China: Implications for Carbon, Water, and Energy Fluxes
    Xin Lin, Tiexi Chen, Xu Yue +2
    EGUspherePreprintCC BY 4.0General earth scienceEGUsphere
  3. Franks and Farquhar (2007) and beyond: the influence of guard and subsidiary cell biomechanics on stomatal function
    Tracy Lawson, Michelle Facette, Scott A M McAdam +1
    Plant PhysiologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textClimate sciencePMC
  4. Influence of vapour pressure deficit and CO 2 on the thermal sensitivity of stomatal function in tropical trees
    Alexander W. Cheesman, Peter Cox, Simon R. G. Jones +3
    New PhytologistPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC5 citedClimate scienceOpenAlex
  5. Stomatal responses of herbaceous plants to climate change since the 1800s: A case study using herbarium specimens
    Nia Richardson, Léa Vilna-Santos, Axel Cortes +3
    EcoEvoRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textEcologyEvolutionary biologyEcoEvoRxiv

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tomkins2026dual,
  title = {{Dual mechanisms give rise to biphasic stomatal opening in onion}},
  author = {Melissa Tomkins and Matthew J. Wilson and Jodie V. Armand and Nathanael Y. H. Tan and Briony Parker and Julie E. Gray and Andrew J. Fleming and Richard J. Morris and Richard S. Smith},
  journal = {The New Phytologist},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1111/nph.71615},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.71615},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dual mechanisms give rise to biphasic stomatal opening in onion
AU  - Melissa Tomkins
AU  - Matthew J. Wilson
AU  - Jodie V. Armand
AU  - Nathanael Y. H. Tan
AU  - Briony Parker
AU  - Julie E. Gray
AU  - Andrew J. Fleming
AU  - Richard J. Morris
AU  - Richard S. Smith
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/06
JO  - The New Phytologist
DO  - 10.1111/nph.71615
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.71615
AB  - Stomata are controllable micropores on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Pore aperture adjustment is a mechanical process whereby changes in guard cell turgor drive changes in cell shape, resulting in stomatal opening or closure.  Previous computational models of kidney‐shaped stomata primarily relied on guard cells elongating upon turgor increase, a process dependent on cell wall properties, such as anisotropy in stiffness, strain‐stiffening, and polar fixing.  Finite element method simulations using experimentally derived 3D meshes from confocal imaging of Allium cepa (onion) suggest an alternative mechanism for opening that is largely due to changes in guard cell cross‐sectional shape. This mechanism does not rely on the assumptions for cell wall parameters required in previous models based on idealised geometries.  We propose that mechanical responsiveness of guard cells to turgor changes is determined by a combination of two processes: one dependent on shape and the other on wall material properties. This suggests the parameters governing guard cell dynamics can be viewed abstractly as a two‐dimensional (shape and material properties) ‘morphospace’, allowing multiple routes of shape adaptation to optimise gas exchange.
SN  - 0028-646X
SN  - 1469-8137
ER  -