"Manipulation of stomatal density to improve CO2 uptake in strawberry and blueberry"

Numerous studies on the effects of CO2 enrichment in commercial greenhouses have shown that increased crop yields can be obtained through increased photosynthetic carbon assimilation. The uptake of CO2 for assimilation is controlled through small pores on the leaf surface known as stomata. Stomata are composed of a pair of specialized cells (guard cells) with an aperture between them and are located on the majority of the aerial parts of the plant but most prevalent on the (lower) leaf epidermis. Alteration in stomatal density (SD), in a number of species - including crops such as rice and barley, has been shown to increase photosynthesis by improving gas diffusion as well as improving water use efficiency. Increasing SD, therefore, has the potential to significantly enhance strawberry and blueberry yields and improve the consistency of berry quality.