Patterning, Physiology and Cell Biology of Stomatal Complexes under Biotic and Abiotic Stress

Dear Colleagues,

Stomata, small pores at the epidermis of at the above-ground organs, are responsible for CO₂ and water exchange in land plants. In most of the plants stomata consist of a pair of guard cells, while in monocots a pair of guard cells and their subsidiary cells comprise the stomatal complex. Since stomatal function is crucial for plant response and adaptation to the everchanging environmental conditions, over the last decay many studies have been focused on stomatal ontogenesis, morphology, and patterning. In view of the ongoing climate change the study of stomatal ontogenesis and physiology is considered a promising scientific field for finding strategies to coping with the threat of nutritional inadequacy that the modern world faces. Understanding the way stomata are arranged on the epidermis, develop, and function will provide means for increasing water use efficiency and result in crop production increase.

Stomatal development and physiology are highly responsive to various abiotic stresses such as salinity, heat, light, drought, waterlogging, chilling and heavy metal stresses. Furthermore, intensive crop cultivation and use of pesticides aiming to high productivity and yields leads to outbreaks of insects and pathogens that expose crops to various biotic stresses. The elucidation of the stomatal role in some plant–herbivore interactions is critical for the development of effective pest management strategies. On the other hand, in the real world, plants have to deal with abiotic and biotic stresses taking place simultaneously, however, the combined effect of abiotic and biotic stresses on plant development has been poorly investigated. This Special Issue of Plants will focus on the role of stomata in plants effort to respond to various abiotic and biotic stress. Contributions from different disciplines of Plant Biology including plant physiology, cell wall biomechanics, hormone responses, crop breeding, as well as environmental adaptation to stress are highly welcomed (or encouraged and appreciated). 

Dr. Eleni Giannoutsou
Dr. Despina Samakovli
Guest Editors

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• stomata
• guard cells
• drought
• heat
• light
• salinity
• herbivores
• pathogens