An investigation on the possibility of use of chlorophyll fluorescence to study the stomatal behaviour in plants under drought stress

Abstract

Stomata play a key role in the control of plant water relations and photosynthesis. A rapid non-destructive method to study the stomatal behaviour in aerial parts of plants is important for researchers in plant sciences and agricultural fields. Stomata close in response to drought stress. Stomatal closure causes lower availability of CO₂ inside the leaf and thus a decrease in the rate of carboxylation. Thus, a measurement of relative quantum yied for electron transport by photosystem II (Φ_PSII) under a non-photorespiratory condition may be used to detect the closure of stomata. In this research we aimed to study the relationship between Φ_PSII and stomatal closing behaviour in <em>Tradescantia</em> <em>virginiana</em> under water stress and rehydration using a chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system.