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Aba
Irrigation
Leaf conductance
Plant functional types
Plant life forms
Stomatal sensitivity
Field-grown maize
Fluctuating environmental-conditions
Plant chamaegigas-intrepidus
Water-use efficiency
Leaf conductance
Aba concentration
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Abstract:
A sensitivity factor that quantifies the responsiveness of stomata to xylem sap abscisic acid concentration ([ABA](xy1)) is described, using the relation between [ABA](xy1) and maximum leaf conductance (g(max)). Plotting g(max) against this factor results in a common linear relationship for woody and herbaceous species from boreal to (semi-) and climates. The global distribution of the sensitivity factor reveals an unexpected pattern which is inverse to rainfall, i.e., plants in humid climates respond more sensitively to ABA than plants in arid areas. The implications for the response of natural vegetation and consequences for agriculture are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. [References: 66]