Ferns usually have relatively lower photosynthetic potential than angiosperms. However, it is unclear whether low photosynthetic potential of ferns is linked to leaf water supply. We hypothesized that there is an evolutionary association of leaf water transport capacity with photosynthesis and stomatal density in ferns. In the present study, a series of functional traits relating to leaf anatom...

Leaf traits may reflect the adaptation mechanisms of plants to the environment. In this study, we investigated leaf morphological and anatomical traits in nine cold-temperate to tropical forests along a 4,200-km transect to test how they vary across latitudinal gradients. The results showed that leaf dry weight decreased (P < 0.05), while specific leaf area (SLA) increased (P < 0.05) with incre...

and growth of Mangifera indica L. saplings during long-term exposure to a CO2-enriched atmosphere in the seasonally wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. Grafted saplings of M. indica were planted in the ground in four air-conditioned, sunlit, plastic-covered chambers and exposed to CO2 at the ambient or an elevated (700 μmol mol) concentration for 28 months. Light-saturating assimilation (Ama...

Parastomal evisceration is a very rare complication occurring after stoma formation. We report the case of this complication which occurred within 3 days status post end sigmoid colostomy in a 69-year-old male who initially presented with perianal infection-severe necrotizing fasciitis. This case highlights the significance of the size of a stomatal aperture and should remind general surgeons o...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Stomata play an important role in both the CO(2) assimilation and water relations of trees. Therefore, stomatal traits have been suggested as criteria for selection of clones or genotypes which are more productive and have larger water-use efficiency (WUE) than others. However, the relationships between plant growth, WUE and stomatal traits are still unclear depending on pla...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), are among the important second messengers in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in guard cells. In this study, to investigate specific roles of H(2)O(2) in ABA signaling in guard cells, we examined the effects of mutations in the guard cell-expressed catalase (CAT) genes, CAT1 and CAT3, and of the CAT inhibitor 3-aminotriazole (A...

Ascorbic acid (Asc) is the most abundant antioxidant in plants and serves as a major contributor to the cell redox state. Exposure to environmental ozone can cause significant damage to plants by imposing conditions of oxidative stress. We examined whether increasing the level of Asc through enhanced Asc recycling would limit the deleterious effects of environmental oxidative stress. Plants ove...

Physiological control of stomatal conductance (Gs) permits plants to balance CO2-uptake for photosynthesis (PN) against water-loss, so optimizing water use efficiency (WUE). An increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide ([CO2]) will result in a stimulation of PN and reduction of Gs in many plants, enhancing carbon gain while reducing water-loss. It has also been hypothesized th...