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Relationship of Temperature to Stomatal Aperture and Potassium Accumulation in Guard Cells of Vicia faba¹

Robert D. Powell^b

Peter J. H. Sharpe^c

^a Department of Biology, Houston Baptist University, Houston, Texas 77074, Department of Plant Sciences, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas 77843, ^c Biosystems Research Division, Bioengineering Program, Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas 77843

Epidermal strips of Vicia faba were floated on 10 millimolar KCl at various temperatures and for several time periods. The diameter of the stomatal aperture was determined microscopically and K⁺ content was estimated and expressed as the per cent of the guard cell stained. Stomatal opening was associated with increased K⁺ in guard cells, but the quantitative association was modified both by time and temperature. At low temperatures (0-20 C) there was a prolonged Spannungsphase while at higher temperatures (30-45 C) motorphase was exhibited. During the motorphase there was a rapid opening of the stomates which was highly correlated with K⁺ influx. At treatment periods of 360 minutes and temperatures higher than 25 C there appeared to be a maintenance phase during which K⁺ concentration of the guard cells decreased without an equivalent decrease in aperture.