Wind speed affects the rate and kinetics of stomatal conductance

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between wind speed and gas exchange in plants is a longstanding challenge. Our aim was to investigate the impact of wind speed on maximum rates of gas exchange and the kinetics of stomatal responses. We conducted experiments in different angiosperm and fern species using an infrared gas analyzer equipped with a controlled leaf fan, enabling precise control of the boundary layer conductance. We first showed that the chamber was adequately mixed even at extremely low wind speed (<0.005 m s⁻¹) and evaluated the link between fan speed, wind speed, and boundary layer conductance. We observed that higher wind speeds led to increased gas exchange of both water vapor and CO₂, primarily due to the increase in boundary layer conductance. This increase in transpiration subsequently reduced epidermal pressure, leading to stomatal opening. We documented that stomatal opening in response to light was 2.5 times faster at a wind speed of 2 m s⁻¹ compared to minimal wind speed in Vicia faba, while epidermal peels in a buffer with no transpiration exhibited a similar opening rate. The increase in stomatal conductance under high wind was also observed in four angiosperm species under field conditions, but it was not observed in Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), which lacks epidermal mechanical advantage. Our findings highlight the significant impact of boundary layer conductance on determining gas exchange rates and the kinetics of gas exchange responses to environmental changes.