Guard cells are specialized, kidney-shaped epidermal cells that occur in pairs surrounding each stoma, the microscopic pore found mainly on the surfaces of leaves and other green tissues of plants. By changing their shape in response to light, water status, carbon dioxide levels, and hormonal signals, guard cells op…
Guard cells are specialized, kidney-shaped epidermal cells that occur in pairs surrounding each stoma, the microscopic pore found mainly on the surfaces of leaves and other green tissues of plants. By changing their shape in response to light, water status, carbon dioxide levels, and hormonal signals, guard cells open and close the stomatal pore, thereby regulating the exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen and controlling water loss through transpiration. This makes them central to photosynthesis, water balance, and a plant's ability to respond to environmental stress, and they also contribute to defense by closing stomata to limit pathogen entry. The regulation of guard-cell function is a key aspect of Plant Cell Development and physiology, particularly under adverse conditions. Research relevant to plant responses to environmental stress examines how cellular and physiological mechanisms cope with challenges such as drought and salinity. Work published by the journal includes a study on the effects of drought and salt stress on cereal crop plants together with proteomic and physiological analyses, which addresses the water-relations and stress-response processes in which stomatal regulation and guard-cell behavior play an important role. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to guard cells, stomatal function, and Plant Cell Development.
2 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 2 articles above have been cited 7 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Guard Cells, linking to each citing work.