The dynamics of stomatal closure of Arabidopsis thaliana determined by terahertz spectroscopy and a water transport model.

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy allows the detection of temporal changes of plant water content in vivo and non-destructively, for example over the course of the day or at the onset of drought stress. By studying a wildtype and a genetically modified variant of Arabidopsis thaliana, we observed significant differences in their dehydration dynamics. For a better understanding of the underlying processes, we modelled this behaviour with a simple rate equation model, compared the results with the experimental data and correlated our model with the biological regulatory mechanisms. In particular, under drought stress, we found an almost three times ([Formula: see text]) higher maximal stomatal opening in the mutant than in the wildtype. Over the course of the day, the degree of stomatal opening shows an exponential decrease with a half-life [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]2.6 h in the wildtype and [Formula: see text]0.8 h in the mutant.

Plant phenotyping relevance

THz分光法による植物体内水分量と気孔開閉 dynamics の非破壊・経時的測定が研究の中心であり、水分状態・生理形質を定量化するフェノタイピング手法としてモデル検証も行っている。

Code and data availability

The paper's THz phenotyping measurements and model data are not publicly deposited; the Data availability statement says they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. No public code or dataset URL is given.

No evidence-backed public reproduction asset is currently recorded.