ABSTRACT
When maize leaves were treated with Tween-80 (0.02 to 2%), their stomata remained open in darkness, and transpiration rate was increased by one to three times. There was a marked decrease in water content and water potential as well as an obvious increase in water saturation deficit (WSD), with no K+ accumulation in guard cells. Abscisic acid (ABA) did not prevent the occurrence of these phenomena; however, when the Tween-treated leaves were left in a moisture-saturated environment, the influence of Tween-80 was counteracted.
Tween-80, Tween-40, Tween-20, and Peregol-0 were sprayed onto the leaves of ten species of plants, and transpiration rate in darkness generally increased due to the application of nonionic surfactants. A significant plant-surfactant interaction occurred.
