The role of light intensity in water transport and homeostasis across different vapor pressure deficit conditions

Abstract

Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) directly affects the driving force of plant water movement by altering the water potential gradient between the atmosphere and plants and indirectly influences the resistance to water movement by regulating plant structure. Concurrently, light intensity modulates both the driving force and resistance to water movement by regulating plant morphology and nonstructural carbohydrate synthesis. Despite significant advances in the understanding of the regulatory effects of VPD on water absorption and transport in tomatoes, the effect of light intensity regulation under varying VPDs on water transport and homeostasis remains to be clarified. Here, we investigated the effects of two light intensities (L300; 300 µmol m^–2 s^–1, L600; 600 µmol m^–2 s^–1) on plant anatomy, physiological traits, hydraulic properties, and expression of plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) and tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) in tomatoes subjected to long-term high and low VPDs. In addition, we analysed the correlations and path coefficients of these indicators. These results indicate that higher light intensity reduces resistance to water movement by enhancing root morphology, vessel parameters in roots and stems, leaf vein density, stomatal morphology, physiological traits, and expression of SlTIPs and SlPIPs in both roots and leaves. Concurrently, increased light intensity boosts the driving force of water movement by amplifying the water potential difference and transpiration under low VPD. However, under high VPD, elevated light intensities create a larger water potential difference, prompting plants to reduce this excessive force by decreasing transpiration and stomatal conductance, thereby maintaining water homeostasis. These findings suggest that light intensity can effectively regulate water homeostasis by dynamically optimising plant structure, hydraulic properties, and the expression of SlTIPs and SlPIPs across different VPDs, providing a theoretical foundation for practical light intensity management in agriculture.