Stomata in motion: How temperature shapes guard cell function and developmental plasticity

Stomata, the micropores on plant epidermal surfaces, balance the gain of inorganic carbon with evaporative loss of water. Stomata consist of two specialised guard cells that regulate aperture in a turgor-driven manner. Stomatal development (number and size) and dynamics (opening and closing) are both factors determining performance and survival under stressful conditions. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of stomatal development and dynamics is thus key for developing crops that are resilient to climate warming. This Tansley insight summarises the current knowledge of how temperature cues control stomatal dynamics for rapid responses and feed into stomatal developmental programmes for long-term adaptation.