THE INFLUENCE OF GAS-PERMEABILITY OF THE CULTURE LID ON CALCIUM-UPTAKE AND STOMATAL FUNCTION IN DIANTHUS MICROPLANTS

The establishment of microplants has been shown to be related to the moisture vapour transmission rate of the culture vessel lid. Lids allowing high moisture vapour loss from the container give increased microplant establishment rates. Further, it has been shown that calcium accumulation in the leaves of microplants is correlated with the moisture vapour transmission rate of the vessel lid and this is related to stomatal function in vitro and ex vitrum and to decreased desiccation in the microplants. It is hypothesized that the increased moisture vapour transmission rate of the lid results in increased transpiration in vitro, which in turn causes increased calcium uptake into the leaves of the microplants with consequential increased stomatal function and reduced losses due to desiccation ex vitrum.