Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new system that allows researchers to observe how plants “breathe” in real time under controlled environmental conditions. The tool, called Stomata In-Sight, integrates live confocal microscopy with leaf gas exchange measurements and precise environmental controls, enabling researchers to directly link microscopic stomatal movements with carbon dioxide uptake and water loss.
Stomata — tiny pores on leaf surfaces — play a critical role in plant growth and water use, but until now, scientists have had to choose between observing their structure or measuring their function. Stomata In-Sight overcomes this limitation, providing a dynamic view of how plants respond to changes in light, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide.
The system could accelerate efforts to develop crops that use water more efficiently, an increasingly urgent need as drought and climate stress intensify. The research was published in Plant Physiology and was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and philanthropic funding.
