采煤沉陷裂缝区土壤含水量变化对柠条叶片叶绿素荧光的响应

采煤塌陷引起的土壤环境因子的变化对矿区植物生长的影响越来越受到人们的关注,快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学分析技术被称为植物受胁迫状态的有效探针,能够快速获取胁迫下光系统II光化学活性和电子传递的信息。研究采煤塌陷裂缝区植物叶片叶绿素荧光的变化是揭示煤炭开采塌陷胁迫对植物个体生长影响的关键环节,能为大尺度下采煤沉陷区植物损伤机理研究提供基础。对于黄土高原半干旱矿区,土壤水分无疑是植物生长最重要的限制因素,而植物叶片叶绿素荧光变化采煤塌陷影响下土壤含水量变化的响应如何尚不清楚。为了弄清采煤沉陷裂缝影响下土壤含水量变化对柠条叶片叶绿素荧光响应的影响,选取神东煤田大柳塔矿区52302工作面为实验场地,在分析了采煤塌陷裂缝对土壤含水量的影响的基础上,以生态修复物种柠条为研究对象,对采煤塌陷裂缝区不同土壤含水量下柠条叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线进行监测。结果显示:(1)由于煤炭井工开采在地表形成大量裂缝,破坏了土体结构,增加了土壤水分的蒸发面,加速了土壤水的散失。土壤水分含量随着与裂缝之间距离的增加而增加,从距离裂缝0 cm到300 cm,土壤平均含水量从5.63%增加到15.07%;(2)裂缝区土壤水分降低,柠条受到干旱胁迫程度加重,叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线由O—J—I—P变形为O—K—J—I—P曲线。干旱胁迫通过干扰柠条叶片PSII电子供体侧、受体侧以及电子传递链的功能,严重的损害了柠条叶片光合机构的正常功能。     

草原地区不同生态类型的植物生理特性的比较研究

比较研究了4种不同水分生态型植物在不同水分胁迫下的光合作用、叶片含水量和气孔阻力等生理指标的反应.结果表明,不同水分生态型植物抵御干旱的机制是不同的.中生植物主要是通过增加气孔阻力限制蒸腾失水,而旱生植物则依靠高浓度的细胞原生质减少水分的散失,后者保水效率远高于前者.植物从中生种到旱生种,生理特性亦显示出规律性的种间差异,叶片含水量和气孔阻力水平降低,而单位叶面积的净光合速率增加.     

草原地区不同生态类型的植物生理特性的比较研究

比较研究了４种不同水分生态型植物在不同水分胁迫下的光合作用、叶片含水量和气孔阻力等生理指标的反应。结果表明,不同水分生态型植物抵御干旱的机制是不同的。中生植物主要是通过增加气孔阻力限制蒸腾失水,而旱生植物则依靠高浓度的细胞原生质减少水分的散失,后者保水效率远高于前者。植物从中生种到旱生种,生理特性亦显示出规律性的种间差异,叶片含水量和气孔阻力水平降低,而单位叶面积的净光合速率增加。     

浙东常绿阔叶林植物功能性状对土壤含水量变化的响应

研究群落演替过程中植物功能性状与土壤含水量的关系, 揭示植物对水分供给变化的响应策略, 具有重要的生态学意义。该研究以浙江东部天童山、南山和双峰山的3个常绿阔叶林演替系列为对象, 旨在探索不同演替阶段常见植物的功能性状与森林群落土壤含水量的相互关系。研究结果显示: 森林演替中后期的树木高度、树冠面积、叶片干物质含量显著大于演替前期植物; 相反, 叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率随演替进程而降低。随森林演替, 表层土壤(0-20 cm)的含水量显著增加, 深层土壤(20-40 cm)含水量随演替进程增加但不显著。表层土壤含水量与树木高度、树冠面积和叶片干物质含量显著正相关, 与叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率显著负相关; 深层土壤含水量与树冠面积显著正相关, 与叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率显著负相关。树木高度、树冠面积、叶片干物质含量、叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均可解释土壤含水量随演替进程的变化趋势, 而冠长比对土壤水分变化的响应最为敏感。     

土壤水分变化对长白山主要树种蒙古栎幼树生长的影响

选择长白山红松阔叶林主要优势树种蒙古栎为研究对象,人工控制3种施水量研究蒙古栎幼树形态、生物量效应和光合生理特征对土壤含水量变化的响应．结果表明,不同土壤含水量变化显著影响蒙古栎叶片、枝、根的生物量及其分配格局和叶片光合气体交换特征．水分胁迫改变幼树树冠结构,抑制幼树树高、地径、叶片大小、地上和地下生物量;同时,蒙古栎幼树根冠生物量比随着土壤水分含量的减少显著提高;供水量减少对幼树净光合速率、CO2利用率和碳利用率等特征有显著的负向影响;而叶片气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用率对不同土壤含水量反应较复杂,只在土壤含水量较低时,幼树气孔导度、蒸腾速率明显降低,叶片水分利用率升高,表现出蒙古栎树种是干旱可变植物,长期水分胁迫可提高树种的耐旱能力．     

红树林植物叶片形态和解剖特征对叶肉导度、叶片导水率的影响

叶肉导度和叶片导水率是影响光合作用的两个重要过程,叶肉导度通过影响从气孔下腔到Rubisco酶位点的二氧化碳浓度梯度直接影响光合作用,而叶片导水率则通过影响水分供应或气孔行为来影响光合作用,然而对这两个生理过程之间的协同性研究较少。本研究选择9种红树林植物为研究对象,探讨盐生环境下植物叶肉导度和叶片导水率的协同性及其与叶片解剖结构特征之间的相关性。结果表明,9种红树林植物叶片导水率(0.78~5.83 mmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1)·MPa-1)、叶肉导度(0.06~0.36 mol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))、最大光合速率(7.23~23.71μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))等特征的差别较大;叶肉导度与最大光合速率呈显著正相关,而与比叶重无显著相关性,其原因是由于比叶重与叶片厚度、叶片密度不存在相关性;叶脉密度与气孔密度呈较强的相关性,说明红树林植物叶片水分运输与散失相关的叶片结构之间存在协同关系;叶片导水率不受叶脉密度影响,并且与叶肉导度、最大光合速率也不存在相关性,这很可能与红树林植物叶片的肉质化、有发达的储水组织有关,体现了红树林植物叶片结构和功能的特殊性。     

冬小麦叶片气孔导度模型水分响应函数的参数化

植物气孔导度模型的水分响应函数用来模拟水分胁迫对气孔导度的影响过程, 是模拟缺水环境下植物与大气间水、碳交换过程的关键算法。水分响应函数包括空气湿度响应函数和土壤湿度(或植物水势)响应函数, 该研究基于田间实验观测, 分析了冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)叶片气孔导度对不同空气饱和差和不同土壤体积含水量或叶水势的响应规律。一个土壤水分梯度的田间处理在中国科学院禹城综合试验站实施, 不同水分胁迫下的冬小麦叶片气体交换过程和气孔导度以及其他的温湿度数据被观测, 同时观测了土壤含水量和叶水势。实验数据表明, 冬小麦叶片气孔导度对空气饱和差的响应呈现双曲线规律, 变化趋势显示大约1 kPa空气饱和差是一个有用的阈值, 在小于1 kPa时, 冬小麦气孔导度对空气饱和差变化反应敏感, 而大于1 kPa后则反应缓慢; 分析土壤体积含水量与中午叶片气孔导度的关系发现, 中午叶片气孔导度随土壤含水量增加大致呈现线性增加趋势, 但在平均土壤体积含水量大于大约25%以后, 气孔导度不再明显增加, 而是维持在较高导度值上下波动; 冬小麦中午叶片水势与相应的气孔导度之间, 随着叶水势的增加, 气孔导度呈现增加趋势。根据冬小麦气孔导度对空气湿度、土壤湿度和叶水势的响应规律, 研究分别采用双曲线和幂指数形式拟合了水汽响应函数, 用三段线性方程拟合了土壤湿度响应函数和植物水势响应函数, 得到的参数可以为模型模拟冬小麦的各类水、热、碳交换过程采用。     

边缘效应带和保留带内红松幼林水分生态的差异

 以一个经过12年边缘效应带处理的14年生红松(Pinus koraiensis)(1998年)幼林生态系统为研究对象,对处于不同宽度的边缘效应带和保留带的红松幼树木质部水势、叶片蒸腾强度、气孔导度、叶片温度、空气相对湿度和光合有效辐射的日变化以及土壤相对含水量进行了分析,结合叶片净光合速率探讨了效应带宽度对红松幼林生态系统中红松幼树水分生态及红松生长状况的可能影响模式。结果表明：1）边缘效应带的开拓降低了效应带内红松幼树木质部水势、空气相对湿度和叶片气孔导度,显著提高了叶片蒸腾强度、叶片温度和光合有效辐射     

不同土壤水分条件下焕镛木幼苗的生理生态特性

在不同的土壤水分条件下 (土壤含水量分别为 2 0 1%、14 3%和 13 2 % ) ,比较研究濒危物种焕镛木幼苗的生理生态特性 ;测定了焕镛木叶片的净光合速率 (A)、气孔导度 (gs)、内在水分利用率效率 (WUE)、比叶面积 (SLA)及叶片的光合作用 光响应曲线。结果表明 :随着土壤含水量的增加叶片的净光合速率和气孔导度相应增高 ,生长在最高土壤含水量下的植株 ,日平均光合速率、气孔导度分别为 8 5 5± 4 32 μmol·m-2 ·s-1和 81 5 7± 8 4 1μmol·m-2 ·s-1,分别比生长在最低土壤含水量下的植株高 2 5 6 1%和 17 6 8% ;另一方面 ,水分利用效率、比叶面积随土壤含水量的降低而趋于增加 ,土壤含水量最低时 ,植株的日平均水分利用率、比别增加0 2 8%和 15 87% ,其中 ,水分利用效率的变幅较小 ;光饱和点随着土壤含水量的增加而增高。较高的土壤湿度有利于焕镛木的生长。     

干旱胁迫对夏蜡梅光合特性的影响

以2年生夏蜡梅(Sinocalycanthus chinensis)苗木为材料,通过盆栽试验,研究土壤干旱胁迫对夏蜡梅叶片光合特性的影响,结果显示:随着干旱胁迫程度的加重,夏蜡梅叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度显著降低;胞间CO2浓度在轻度和中度胁迫下显著低于对照,但在重度胁迫下显著高于对照;水分利用效率在胁迫下提高,且以中度胁迫为最大.温度升高使叶片净光合速率和水分利用效率降低、蒸腾速率升高,加重了干旱对光合作用的不利影响.对照及轻度和中度干旱胁迫处理的净光合速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率日变化曲线均为双峰型,但重度胁迫下净光合速率和气孔导度日变化转变为峰值很小的单峰型;各处理的蒸腾速率日变化曲线为单峰型并以午间最高.表明夏蜡梅光合作用对干旱胁迫有一定的适应能力,但重度胁迫对其造成严重影响.     

A coupled model of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration

A model that couples stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, leaf energy balance and transport of water through the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum is presented. Stomatal conductance in the model depends on light, temperature and intercellular CO₂ concentration via photosynthesis and on leaf water potential, which in turn is a function of soil water potential, the rate of water flow through the soil and plant, and on xylem hydraulic resistance. Water transport from soil to roots is simulated through solution of Richards’ equation. The model captures the observed hysteresis in diurnal variations in stomatal conductance, assimilation rate and transpiration for plant canopies. Hysteresis arises because atmospheric demand for water from the leaves typically peaks in mid‐afternoon and because of uneven distribution of soil matric potentials with distance from the roots. Potentials at the root surfaces are lower than in the bulk soil, and once soil water supply starts to limit transpiration, root potentials are substantially less negative in the morning than in the afternoon. This leads to higher stomatal conductances, CO₂ assimilation and transpiration in the morning compared to later in the day. Stomatal conductance is sensitive to soil and plant hydraulic properties and to root length density only after approximately 10 d of soil drying, when supply of water by the soil to the roots becomes limiting. High atmospheric demand causes transpiration rates, LE, to decline at a slightly higher soil water content, θ_s, than at low atmospheric demand, but all curves of LE versus θ_s fall on the same line when soil water supply limits transpiration. Stomatal conductance cannot be modelled in isolation, but must be fully coupled with models of photosynthesis/respiration and the transport of water from soil, through roots, stems and leaves to the atmosphere.     

陕北水蚀风蚀交错带柠条适应不同生境的形态和生理可塑性

以陕北水蚀风蚀交错带4个不同坡位与土壤质地生境[沟底+坝淤绵沙土(A)、梁坡+红黄土(B)、坡顶+绵沙土(C)、坡顶+风沙土盖绵沙土(D)]中生长的柠条为研究对象,研究了其生长、光合和水力性状的可塑性变化,以揭示柠条对不同生境的适应机制。结果表明:(1)生境D和生境A样地1~3m和3m土层的平均含水量明显高于生境B和C;(2)与生境B和C相比,生境A和D中生长的柠条冠幅、株高和新枝长显著增加,叶厚度减小,正午叶水势、净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率亦显著增加,但不同生境中柠条枝比导水率、Huber值和栓塞程度无显著差异;(3)柠条各测定指标中,新枝长、净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率表现出较大的可塑性。研究认为,柠条可能主要通过新枝长或光合生理特征的改变来适应不同的水分生境。     

Recovery responses of photosynthesis,transpiration, and stomatal conductance in kidney bean following drought stress

Photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics were examined in kidney bean plants, with developing gradually water stress for several days after watering and then permitted to recover by re-watering. The photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance decreased rapidly by withholding water for 2 days. The F_v/F_m of chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics slightly decreased when the water was withheld for 7 days. After re-watering the rate of recovery of photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance decreased gradually as the days without watering became longer. The differences existed in rates of recovery of photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance following drought stress. Among the fractional recoveries the highest was photosynthesis, and the lowest was stomatal conductance. Photosynthesis rate following drought stress was rapidly recovered until 2 days after re-watering, then recovered slowly. The critical time for the recovery of photosynthesis was recognized. The results show clearly a close correlation between the leaf water potential and the recovery level and speed of photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance.     

沙埋对沙米幼苗生长、存活及光合蒸腾特性的影响

沙米(Agriophyllum squarrosum)是藜科沙蓬属1年生沙生植物,广泛分布于我国各主要沙漠和沙地中。为了解沙埋对沙米生长、存活和光合蒸腾特性影响,2010-2011年在科尔沁沙地研究了不同沙埋深度下沙米幼苗高度、存活率、光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率的变化,结果表明:沙米具有极强的耐沙埋能力。埋深为株高25%时,沙米幼苗存活率和株高显著增加,埋深为株高50%-100%时,其株高和存活率虽有下降,但与非沙埋对照差异不显著。当沙埋深度超过株高后,其株高和存活率急剧下降,但沙埋达到株高266%时仍然有部分幼苗存活。沙埋第5天,随着沙埋深度的增加,沙米幼苗的光合速率缓慢下降,蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率均呈波动式变化。随着沙埋时间的延长,和对照相比,沙米幼苗的光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度均随沙埋深度增加而大幅度下降,但水分利用效率仍呈波动式变化。沙埋第15天时其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率分别较非沙埋对照下降了86.7%、89.0%、90.0%和4.2%。相关分析表明,沙米幼苗的存活率和高生长与其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度变化呈显著正相关,而其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度之间也呈显著正相关,但与水分利用效率的相关性未达到显著水平。沙埋胁迫下沙米幼苗存活率下降和生长抑制不仅源于沙埋造成幼苗顶土困难和光合面积减少,光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度下降也是重要原因。     

Stomatal function,density and pattern,and CO2 assimilation in Arabidopsis thaliana tmm1 and sdd1‐1 mutants

• Stomata modulate the exchange of water and CO₂ between plant and atmosphere. Although stomatal density is known to affect CO₂ diffusion into the leaf and thus photosynthetic rate, the effect of stomatal density and patterning on CO₂ assimilation is not fully understood.
• We used wild types Col‐0 and C24 and stomatal mutants sdd1‐1 and tmm1 of Arabidopsis thaliana, differing in stomatal density and pattern, to study the effects of these variations on both stomatal and mesophyll conductance and CO₂ assimilation rate. Anatomical parameters of stomata, leaf temperature and carbon isotope discrimination were also assessed.
• Our results indicate that increased stomatal density enhanced stomatal conductance in sdd1‐1 plants, with no effect on photosynthesis, due to both unchanged photosynthetic capacity and decreased mesophyll conductance. Clustering (abnormal patterning formed by clusters of two or more stomata) and a highly unequal distribution of stomata between the adaxial and abaxial leaf sides in tmm1 mutants also had no effect on photosynthesis.
• Except at very high stomatal densities, stomatal conductance and water loss were proportional to stomatal density. Stomatal formation in clusters reduced stomatal dynamics and their operational range as well as the efficiency of CO₂ transport.

     

The responses of stomata and leaf gas exchange to vapour pressure deficits and soil water content

The responses of leaf conductance, leaf water potential and rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis at different vapour pressure deficits ranging from 10 to 30 Pa kPa^-1 were followed in the sclerophyllous woody shrub Nerium oleander L. as the extractable soil water content decreased. When the vapour pressure deficit around a plant was kept constant at 25 Pa kPa^-1 as the soil water content decreased, the leaf conductance and transpiration rate showed a marked closing response to leaf water potential at-1.1 to-1.2 MPa, whereas when the vapour pressure deficit around the plant was kept constant at 10 Pa kPa^-1, leaf conductance decreased almost linearly from-0.4 to-1.1 MPa. Increasing the vapour pressure deficit from 10 to 30 Pa kPa^-1 in 5 Pa kPa^-1 steps, decreased leaf conductance at all exchangeable soil water contents. Changing the leaf water potential in a single leaf by exposing the remainder of the plant to a high rate of transpiration decreased the water potential of that leaf, but did not influence leaf conductance when the soil water content was high. As the soil water content was decreased, leaf conductances and photosynthetic rates were higher at equal levels of water potential when the decrease in potential was caused by short-term increases in transpiration than when the potential was decreased by soil drying.As the soil dried and the stomata closed, the rate of photosynthesis decreased with a decrease in the internal carbon dioxide partial pressure, but neither the net photosynthetic rate nor the internal CO₂ partial pressure were affected by low water potentials resulting from short-term increases in the rate of transpiration. Leaf conductance, transpiration rate and net photosynthetic rate showed no unique relationship to leaf water potential, but in all experiments the leaf gas exchange decreased when about one half of the extractable soil water had been utilized. We conclude that soil water status rather than leaf water status controls leaf gas exchange in N. oleander.     

The influence of ozone on the stomatal and non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in Norway spruce,Picea abies (L.) Karst,exposed to soil moisture deficit

Summary Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karst., was exposed to charcoal-filtered air (CF) and non-filtered air + ozone (NF+) and periods of soil moisture deficit from 1985 to 1988 in open-top chambers. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, needle water potential and various shoot properties were measured on 1-year-old shoots during a period of soil moisture deficit. The gas exchange was measured at saturating photosynthetic photon flux density and across a range of CO₂ concentrations. The soil moisture deficit induced a mild drought stress in the plants, expressed by a pre-dawn needle water potential of approximately-0.9 MPa and a substantial reduction in net photosynthesis and gas phase conductance. In the CF treatment, intercellular CO₂ concentration was reduced, but was unaffected in the NF+ treatment. Furthermore, net photosynthesis declined more in response to the soil moisture deficit in the NF+ treatment than in the CF treatment. This is suggested to be attributed to the carboxylation efficiency at the operating point, which was decreased by 47% and 64% in shoots from the CF and the NF+ treatments, respectively. Stomatal limitation of net photosynthesis was increased by drought by 24–45% in the CF treatment, while it was unaffected in the NF+ treatment. Thus, our results imply that the coupling between the stomatal conductance and the photosynthetic rate was changed and that the marginal cost of water per given amount of carbon gain will increase in trees exposed to ozone, during periods of drought.     

喀斯特石漠化地区土壤养分对泡核桃功能性状的影响

为了探究喀斯特石漠化地区植物叶片功能性状及影响因素,以及揭示其对石漠化环境的适应机理,该文以中国南方喀斯特高原峡谷地区的泡核桃(Juglans sigillata)为对象,揭示土壤养分对叶片结构和光合性状的影响效应。结果表明:(1)泡核桃叶功能性状随石漠化等级增加,叶面积减小,比叶面积增大,叶干物质含量和叶组织密度先降后升,蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度、气孔导度和光能利用率先下降后升高,其他性状变化趋势不显著。(2)冗余分析表明土壤养分能够解释37.4%的光合性状变异与53.4%的结构性状变异,其中全磷和溶解性有机碳对光合性状影响最大,而对结构性状影响最显著的是碱解氮和速效磷。(3)比叶面积分别与叶干物质含量极显著负相关,与净光合速率极显著正相关,叶厚度与叶组织密度极显著负相关,蒸腾速率与胞间CO₂浓度、气孔导度极显著正相关,水分利用速率与蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度、气孔导度极显著负相关,光能利用率与净光合速率显著正相关。研究结果表明,泡核桃为适应喀斯特石漠化的特殊生境采取增强生长功能性状,同时提高资源获取能力的开拓型生长策略,以提高对环境胁迫的抵御和适应能力。     

不同平茬年限人工柠条林光合特性及土壤水分的响应变化

平茬是荒漠草原老化人工柠条林营林抚育的重要措施,为系统认识柠条平茬后连续的生理与生态响应过程及其变化规律,该研究设置对比观测样地,以未平茬柠条(WPC)为对照,以平茬后连续生长1～5年(PC1～PC5)的柠条为处理,对各样地柠条净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度、水分利用效率等光合生理特征及其土壤含水量分布的影响进行测定分析。结果表明:(1)平茬处理对柠条生理特性的影响因平茬年限的增加而异,其中PC1和PC2柠条的净光合速率和蒸腾速率较WPC略有提高,PC1柠条处于补偿生长的活跃期,水分利用效率明显高于其他平茬处理,PC2柠条的水分利用效率开始下降;PC3和PC4的柠条蒸腾速率、净光合速率和气孔导度显著上升,且PC4处理下达到最大值,相应水分利用效率也逐步回升;PC5的柠条几乎不存在补偿性生长,净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率开始回落,逐渐接近WPC;平茬措施对PC1与PC5柠条胞间CO2浓度大小的影响较大。(2)PC1的土壤水分含量在0～100cm土层因受冠层截留大幅减小的影响而低于其他年限平茬处理;PC2的土壤水分略有改善,PC3、PC4的土壤含水量显著提高,PC5的土壤水分状况则逐渐接近于WPC。(3)随平茬年限的增加,柠条光合特性与土壤含水量间存在一定的动态互馈关系,其中PC1的土壤水分略有下降,柠条生长减缓;PC2土壤含水量逐步恢复;PC3土壤含水量增长幅度开始下降,柠条的各项生理指标上升;PC4柠条的光合生理指标、土壤含水量都达到了最高值;PC5柠条的各项指标开始下降。研究发现,PC4处理是柠条光合生理和土壤水分响应变化的拐点,可参考作为平茬柠条优化管理的一个时间节点。     

The apparent feed-forward response to vapour pressure deficit of stomata in droughted, field-grown Eucalyptus globulus Labill

This study tested a multiplicative model of stomatal response to environment for drought‐affected trees of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. growing in southern Australia. The model incorporates a feed‐forward response to vapour pressure deficit of ambient air (δe_a) and performed well if evaluated using reduced major axis regression and log‐transformed data. There was strong evidence from gas‐exchange data, leaf water potentials and sapflow measurements of the feed‐forward response by stomata to leaf‐to‐air vapour pressure deficit (δe_l). The response of stomata to δe_l was irreversible. Stomatal conductance and the rate of net photosynthesis were highly correlated and declined, together with the rate of transpiration, throughout the afternoon as δe_a increased despite increasing leaf water potentials. The concentration of CO₂ inside leaves (c_i) increased as stomatal conductance declined indicating increasing non‐stomatal limitations to photosynthesis. The stomatal response to δe_l of E. globulus in the field is best described as an ‘apparent feed‐forward response’ that probably results from both slowly reversible depression of net photosynthesis and abscisic acid accumulation in guard cells. We suggest that the stomatal response to c_i may strengthen the link between photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance during leaf drying as a result of either drought or large δ e_l.