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Differential Stomatal Response Between C₃ and C₄ Species to Atmospheric CO₂ Concentration and Light¹

Transpiration measurements were made on attached leaves of potted plants or on excised leaves of native plants of three C₃ species—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.) — and three C₄ species — maize (Zea mays L.), green foxtail (Setaria viridis L.), and pigweed (Amarranthus retroflexus L.) — in different CO₂ concentrations and light intensities. The experiments were begun with leaves in CO₂-free air in light (0.4 cal cm^–2 min^–1, 400–700 nm) to open the stomata.

Stomata of C₃ species were less prone to closure than were stomata of C₄ species as the light intensity was decreased or as the CO₂ concentration was increased. The greater water use efficiency of C₄ species may be due in part to the better control of water loss because the stomata are more responsive to environmental changes than are the stomata of C₃ species.

Key Words: Water use efficiency

² Visiting Scientist (Present address: Department of Plant Physiology and Genetics, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Konosu, Saitama, Japan) and Professor, respectively. Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101.

Received for publication April 28, 1972.