Biology

Lioyd’s Theory in terms of Turgidity and Flaccidity of Guard Cells

Lioyd’s Theory in terms of Turgidity and Flaccidity of Guard Cells

Lioyd’s theory:

According to this theory guard cells manufacture sugar in presence of sunlight in the day time. In addition to that the stored starch in guard cells also converts to soluble sugar. Because of this concentration of cell sap of the guard cells becomes much higher that of the surrounding cells and thus become osmatically active. He found out that guard cells contain sugar during day time when they are open and starch during night when they are closed.

Thus the guard cells become turgid making the elliptical pore open.

Its explanation is based on following sequence:

Light → Photosynthesis in guard cells → Formation of sugar Increase of osmotic pressure of cell sap → Endosmosis takes place from subsidiary cell to guard cell → Increase of TP in guard cells → Stomata open.

At night the stored sugar of the guard cells is converter to insoluble starch and the concentration of the sap decreases and water moves to the surrounding cells osmotically. Due to the loss of water the guard cells lose their turgidity and become flaccid and thus the stomata become closed.