Responses to Humidity by Stomata of Nicotiana glauca L. And Corylus avellana L. Are Consistent With the Optimization of Carbon Dioxide Uptake With Respect to Water Loss

Intact leaves of N. glauca and C. avellana were exposed to a range of humidities and their gas exchange monitored. Rates of transpiration and assimilation of carbon dioxide, and their sensitivities to changes in total conductance (leaf and boundary layer) were determined. The ratio of these sensitivities, δE/δA, remained substantially constant over the range of humidities. The results represent the first experimental support for a recent hypothesis that stomata vary their apertures in such a manner as to keep δE/δA constant, which optimizes carbon gain with respect to water loss.