Stomatal Diffusion Resistance of Snap Beans. II. Effect of Light

The effect of light on the stomatal resistance of abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied in the growth chamber and in the field. The adaxial stomata required more light to open than the abaxial stomata; the abaxial stomatal apertures were still about 50% open at 1% full sunlight and light-induced closure was never observed under daytime field conditions. A given value of abaxial stomatal resistance was obtained at a given illumination of the abaxial guard cells whether illumination was adaxial or abaxial.