Sheathing the blade: Significant contribution of sheaths to daytime and nighttime gas exchange in a grass crop

Walid Sadok, Jose R. Lopez, Yangyang Zhang, Bishal G. Tamang, Gary J. Muehlbauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite representing a sizeable fraction of the canopy, very little is known about leaf sheath gas exchange in grasses. Specifically, estimates of sheath stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis along with their responses to light, CO2 and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) are unknown. Furthermore, the anatomical basis of these responses is poorly documented. Here, using barley as a model system, and combining leaf-level gas exchange, whole-plant gravimetric measurements, transpiration inhibitors, anatomical observations, and biophysical modelling, we found that sheath and blade stomatal conductance and transpiration were similar, especially at low light, in addition to being genotypically variable. Thanks to high abaxial stomata densities and surface areas nearly half those of the blades, sheaths accounted for up to 17% of the daily whole-plant water use, which -surprisingly- increased to 45% during the nighttime. Sheath photosynthesis was on average 17–25% that of the blade and was associated with lower water use efficiency. Finally, sheaths responded differently to the environment, exhibiting a lack of response to CO2 but a strong sensitivity to VPD. Overall, these results suggest a key involvement of sheaths in feedback loops between canopy architecture and gas exchange with potentially significant implications on adaptation to current and future climates in grasses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1844-1861
Number of pages18
JournalPlant Cell and Environment
Volume43
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by USDA‐NIFA through the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (project# MIN‐13‐124) and China Scholarship Council. We thank Kevin Smith for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

Funding Information:
China Scholarship Council; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Grant/Award Number: MIN‐13‐124 Funding information

Funding Information:
This work was funded by USDA-NIFA through the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (project# MIN-13-124) and China Scholarship Council. We thank Kevin Smith for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • barley
  • climate change
  • drought tolerance
  • nighttime transpiration
  • photosynthesis
  • stomata density
  • stomatal conductance
  • vapour pressure deficit

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