Dr. Senior Scientist Juergen Burkhardt: Hydraulic activation of stomata - development and effects

Dr.  Juergen Burkhardt

The hydraulic system of plants is generally assumed to terminate within the substomatal cavity, from where transpiration then happens exclusively as water vapour. However, hygroscopic leaf surface material from aerosols or agricultural sprays may deliquesce and successively migrate into stomata, where it connects with water coming from the roots.

This process – the hydraulic activation of stomata – enables the bidirectional stomatal transport of liquid water, ions and solid materials. It can affect plant water and nutrient relations and potentially creates a bias in models of gas exchange.

Dr.  Juergen Burkhardt is a Senior Scientist at University of Bonn, Germany.