Stomata Function

Every creation of God has its own importance and all of them are connected to each other. This means that we all are an important part of the ecosystem. Plants and trees hold an entire level of the ecosystem pyramid. They give us air to breathe, food to eat and many other things too. One of the most important parts of plants is the stomata. Stoma is the singular form of stomata and it means 'mouth'. Stomata function is to regulate the process of photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, etc. In this article we are going to discuss the structure and function of stomata in plants which is an important part of plant biology.

Positioning and Structure of Stomata

Stomata are found on the leaves of plants. They can either be present on both the sides or just on one side of the leaf. When the stomata are present on both the sides of the leaf then they are called amphistomatic, if on the upper side then epistomatic, and if they are present on the lower side then they are called hypostomatic. They are found in the epidermis of the leaf and cover nearly 1-12% of the leaf surface. Although they are found on the epidermis, the exact positioning is different from plant to plant. For example, in mesophytes, the stomata are found in the same levels of the epidermis but in the xerophytes they are sunken to reduce the water loss. In some plants they are even raised above the epidermis.

Apart from this variety in location, dicot leaves have more number of stomata on the upper surface than the lower, but monocot leaves have the same number of stomata in the upper and lower part of the leaves. The structure of the stomata consists of a kidney shaped epidermal cell with an opening in the center which is known as a pore. Inner walls of the guard cells face the aperture and are thicker than the outer layers. Guard cells also have large vacuoles. The cells which surround the guard cells are known as subsidiary or accessory cells.

Function of Stomata in Plants

The most important and major function of stomata is the exchange of gases. In simple terms we can say that the plant takes CO₂ from the atmosphere and gives out O₂ which is utilized by animals and human beings. Well this can be understood under the following heads.

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a process of manufacturing food in the plant with the help of sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. The plant takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which is taken through the stomata. The water molecule is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen and the oxygen is then released in the atmosphere as a by-product. This oxygen is also released through the stomatal openings. Hence we can say that the medium of gaseous exchange is stomata. This is a medium of cellular respiration in plants. The work which a nose does for us is similar to the stomata in a plant.

Transpiration
Transpiration is a process of evaporation of water from the surface of the plant. This is done through the stomatal openings. This helps the plant to get cool and also helps in the transfer of minerals and other materials to different parts of the plant. As the plant takes water from the soil, the openings absorb other minerals. But to transfer these minerals to the surface of the plant, the water on the surface of the plant should be evaporated. Once it is evaporated, it will develop pressure which will force the roots to absorb water from the soil and will be transferred to the tips of the plants. The major work of evaporation of water is done by stomata.

Opening and Closing of Stomata
Apart from the transpiration and photosynthesis process, stomata also have another very important function. This function is to save water loss. This is done by the opening and closing of the stomata. Plants cannot make their food at night. This is because they do not get sunlight which in turn does not open the stomata. As soon as sunlight strikes the plant's leaf, there is a change in turgor pressure. This forces the guard cells to form a crescent shape and open the pores of the stomata. This makes the pores open and the processes of photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration are continued. But once the sun sets, the guard cells lose the turgor pressure and this results in the closing of the stomata. This opening and closing also depends upon the environmental conditions. In adverse condition such as very high temperature, the stomata closes itself to stop water loss. They sometimes also keep moist air closed inside themselves to prevent the plant's tissues from freezing in excess cold.

If you have a microscope at home or in your school or college then just take a small section of the leaf and try to observe these tiny but important parts of the plant.