The Regulation of Stomatal Aperture in Tobacco Leaf Epidermal Strips II. The Effect of Ouabain

Abstract

The K+-dependent, light-stimulated opening of stomata on tobacco and V icia faba epidermal strips was found to be rapidly reduced by low concentrations of ouabain. On removing ouabain stomatal aperture rapidly increased. This suggests that the influx of K+ into the guard cells is associated with a membrane·bound transport ATPase. Experiments with 10-5M p.chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) and ouabain indicate that the considered transport ATPase is not markedly affected by PCMB. The stomatal opening obtained in the presence of Na+ alone is also decreased on the addition of ouabain, though ouabain does not prevent the longer-term stomatal opening which occurs in the dark in the presence of N a + alone. In the light, recovery of stomatal opening on the removal of ouabain from the bathing medium only occurred in the presence of K+. It is considered that an ATPase·linked K+ transport system could give the rapid rate of influx that would be necessary to bring about stomatal opening in the times observed. The presence of an ATPase transport system would give an evolutionary link between the stomatal control mechanism and that associated with the function of other excitable cells such as nerve and muscle.