Mechanisms underlying stomatal responses to vapour pressure deficit - an experimental and modelling approach

Funding: 2001: $60,000
2002: $50,000

Project Member(s): Eamus, D.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Large Grant)

Start year: 2001

Summary: Stomata regulate water and CO2 diffusion of leaves. Consequently, nderstanding their regulation is important for crop physiology, forestry and water management, since CO2 is the basis for growth and transpiration from trees is important to catchment hydrology. Mechanisms underlying responses of stomata to vapour pressure deficit (VPD), a key envoronmental variable influencing stomata, remain poorly understood. Experimental and modelling work suggests a central role for apoplast pH in drought responses of stomata and local turgor gradients in responses of stomata to changes in VPD. This project combines sub-cellular, cellular and modelling approaches to investigate mechanisms underlying stomatal resonses to VPD.

Publications:

Eamus, D & Christian, K 2003, 'Monsoonal Tropical Australia' in Attiwill, P & Wilson, B (eds), Ecology: an Australian Perspective, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 315-331.

Choinski, JS, Ralph, P & Eamus, D 2003, 'Changes in photosynthesis during leaf expansion in Corymbia gummifera', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 111-118.
View/Download from: Publisher's site

Thomas, DD & Eamus, D 2002, 'Seasonal patterns of xylem sap pH, cylem abscisic acid concentration, leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of six evergreen and deciduous Australian savanna tree species', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 50, no. N/A, pp. 229-236.

Keywords: stomata; transpiration; Apoplast pH; Plant physiology; Abscicic acid

FOR Codes: Plant Physiology, Biological sciences, Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences, Plant physiology

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.