Aquaporin mediating stomatal closure is associated with water conservation under mild water deficit

O_LIContradictory results indicate that aquaporins might facilitate the diffusion of both water and H2O2 during abscisic acid (ABA) triggered stomatal closure. Here, we tested whether maize plasma membrane PIP2;5 aquaporin regulates stomatal closure under water deficit or ABA treatment in intact plants, detached leaves, and peeled epidermis. C_LIO_LITranspiration, stomatal conductance and aperture, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stomatal complexes were studied in maize lines deregulated in PIP2;5 gene expression, under water deficit and/or ABA treatments. C_LIO_LIIn well-watered conditions, the PIP2;5 overexpressing (OE) plants transpired more than the wild-type plants (WT), while no significant difference in transpiration was observed between pip2;5 KO and WT plants. Upon mild-water deficit or low ABA concentration treatment, the transpiration and stomatal conductance decreased more in PIP2;5 OE, and less in pip2;5 KO lines, in comparison with WT plants. Using isolated epidermis, ABA treatment induced faster stomatal closing in PIP2;5 OE lines compared to the WT, while pip2;5 KO stomata were ABA insensitive. These phenotypes were associated with guard cell ROS accumulation. C_LIO_LITogether, these data indicate that maize PIP2;5 regulates early stomatal closure for water conservation upon a water deficit environment. C_LI