Magnesium decreases leaf scald symptoms on rice leaves and preserves their photosynthetic performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium (Mg) on the photosynthetic gas exchange parameters ([net CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and internal CO2 concentration (Ci)], chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence a parameters {minimal fluorescence (F0), maximum fluorescence (Fm), maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching coefficient (qp), yield of photochemistry [Y(II)], yield of regulated energy dissipation [Y(NPQ)] and yield of non-regulated dissipation losses [Y(NO)]} as well as on the concentrations of chloroplastidic pigments in rice plants grown in a nutrient solution containing 0.5 or 1.5 mM of Mg (-Mg or + Mg plants, respectively) and non-inoculated or inoculated with Monographella albescens. A higher Mg supply decreased the leaf scald symptoms in addition to partially preserving the photosynthetic performance of rice leaves challenged with M. albescens. Photosynthetic impairments were associated with photochemical and biochemical dysfunctions at the chloroplast level. The images of Chl a fluorescence evidenced increases in both the Y(II) and qp coupled with decreases in Y(NPQ) associated with a higher Mg supply regardless of inoculation, suggesting increased electron transport rates and lower energy dissipation as heat. Notably, as the leaf scald developed, the use of light energy through photochemical reactions was continuously lost, especially for the inoculated -Mg plants. Interestingly, the lower values for F0, Fm, and Fv/Fm for -Mg plants were associated with greater photochemical dysfunctions and a progressive loss of photosynthetic pigments during the infection process of M. albescens. The underlying mechanism through which Mg can affect rice resistance against M. albescens remains to be fully elucidated.

What is the influence of ordinary epidermal cells and stomata on the leaf plasticity of coffee plants grown under full-sun and shady conditions?

Stomata are crucial in land plant productivity and survival. In general, with lower irradiance, stomatal and epidermal cell frequency per unit leaf area decreases, whereas guard-cell length or width increases. Nevertheless, the stomatal index is accepted as remaining constant. The aim of this paper to study the influence of ordinary epidermal cells and stomata on leaf plasticity and the influence of these characteristics on stomata density, index, and sizes, in the total number of stomata, as well as the detailed distribution of stomata on a leaf blade. As a result, a highly significant positive correlation (R²(a) = 0.767 p ≤ 0.001) between stomatal index and stomatal density, and with ordinary epidermal cell density (R²(a) = 0.500 p ≤ 0.05), and a highly negative correlation between stomatal index and ordinary epidermal cell area (R²(a) = -0.571 p ≤ 0.001), were obtained. However in no instance was the correlation between stomatal index or stomatal density and stomatal dimensions taken into consideration. The study also indicated that in coffee, the stomatal index was 19.09% in shaded leaves and 20.08% in full-sun leaves. In this sense, variations in the stomatal index by irradiance, its causes and the consequences on plant physiology were discussed.