A two-photon confocal microscope image of single corn (Zea mays) stoma captured while the leaf was manipulated inside a gas exchange system with high light and tightly controlled [CO2] and humidity conditions. The time lapse visualizes the stoma closing over time. Stomata respond to environmental conditions and serve as the gate of CO2 uptake and water evaporation making them important leaf structures for managing water use efficiency at the leaf level.
From Joe Crawford in the Leakey Lab.