An electrophysiological insight into the role of chloroplasts in stomatal drought signalling

干旱意味着植物必须应对的一系列压力。干旱不仅是生活在这片干旱大陆的澳大利亚人的国内问题，而且还严重影响全球粮食供应并推动气候变化。气孔保卫细胞对全球水和碳循环起着重要的控制作用。虽然气孔总面积可能是叶表面的5%，但通过气孔的蒸腾水分损失占农业总用水量的70%。作为一种环境信号，干旱调节气孔运动。本项目旨在了解干旱诱导的分子逆行信号及其对气孔的调控机制。研究结果将有助于制定减少作物水分损失的战略。

Drought implies a range of stresses with which plants have to cope. Drought is not only a domestic issue for Australian people who live in this dry continent but also significantly affects global food supply and drives climate change. Stomata guard cells exert major controls on global water and carbon cycles. Although the total stomatal pore area may be five per cent of a leaf surface, transpirational water loss through the stomata contributes to 70 per cent of total agricultural water usage. As an environmental signal, drought regulates stomatal movements. This project seeks to understand the mechanisms of drought induced molecular retrograde signals and their regulation over stomata. The outcomes will aid the development of strategies for reducing water loss from crops.