Swinging Stomata: 4D capture of plant cell morphodynamics to inform on wall mechanic

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Adjoining guard cells (GCs) in the epidermis deflate to close the stomatal pore, regulating gas flow into plants for photosynthesis. Via BBSRC-funded work we created a finite-element (FE) model, allowing us to test ideas on the role of cell wall in this process (Woolfenden et al., Curr. Biol 2017). Our model was based on the traditional view that GC movement occurs in the plane of the epidermis. Using confocal imaging and 3D reconstruction of labelled GCs, we have now shown that the closing motion is complex, involving rotation around a pivot and shape change, so the GCsactually swing down to shut the pore.