Molecular Basis of Variation in Stomatal Responsiveness to Elevated CO2

Abstract Stomata are small pores in the surface of plant leaves, balancing the uptake of CO2 against the loss of water vapour. As drought stress is projected to increase in many parts of the world, an improved understanding of how plants regulate their stomata in response to environmental stimuli may have important implications for securing food production in a future climate. The stomata of most plants respond to elevated CO2 concentration by partial closing, but the magnitude of this response shows a large variation among species and ecotypes. Plants that substantially decrease stomatal conductance under elevated CO2 reduce their water consumption and increase their water-use efficiency. However, the genetic basis for inter- and intraspecific variation in responsiveness is poorly understood, as are the mechanisms for sensing and responding to CO2. In the current study, we have measured the short-term stomatal response to elevated CO2 in a population of Arabidopsis thaliana recombinant inbred lines (RILs) originating from a cross between two parental genotypes showing a large difference in stomatal responsiveness. Hence, this RIL population showed a broad range in stomatal responsiveness, ranging from a 10% to a 60% reduction of stomatal conductance following an increase in CO2 concentration from 400 to 800 ppm. Using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping we have identified two genetic loci involved in the stomatal response to elevated CO2. Potential candidate genes regulating the stomatal response will be discussed.