Stomata, small hydromechanical valves in the leaf epidermis, are fundamental in regulating gas exchange and water loss between plants and the environment. Stomatal development involves a series of coordinated events ranging from the initial cell division that determines the meristemoid mother cells to forming specialized structures such as guard cells. These events are orchestrated by the transcription factors SPEECHLESS, FAMA, and MUTE through signaling networks. The role of plant hormones (e.g., abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and brassinosteroids) in regulating stomatal development has been elucidated through these signaling cascades. In addition, environmental factors, such as light availability and CO₂ concentration, also regulate the density and distribution of stomata in leaves, ultimately affecting overall water use efficiency. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms underlying stomatal development, connecting key signaling processes that activate or inhibit cell differentiation responsible for forming guard cells in the leaf epidermis. The factors responsible for integrating transcription factors, hormonal responses, and the influence of climatic factors on the signaling network that leads to stomatal development in plants are further discussed. Understanding the intricate connections between these factors, including the metabolic regulation of plant development, may enable us to maximize plant productivity under specific environmental conditions in changing climate scenarios.

气孔是叶表皮中的小型流体机械阀门，对于调节植物与环境之间的气体交换和水分流失至关重要。气孔发育涉及一系列协调事件，从决定分生组织母细胞的初始细胞分裂到形成特殊结构（例如保卫细胞）。这些事件是由转录因子 SPEECHLESS、FAMA、 和 MUTE 通过信号网络精心策划的。植物激素（例如脱落酸、茉莉酸和油菜素类固醇）在调节气孔发育中的作用已通过这些信号级联得以阐明。此外，光利用率和CO₂浓度等环境因素也会调节叶片气孔的密度和分布，最终影响整体水分利用效率。在这篇综述中，我们强调了气孔发育的潜在机制，连接了激活或抑制负责在叶表皮中形成保卫细胞的细胞分化的关键信号传导过程。进一步讨论了负责整合转录因子、激素反应的因素，以及气候因素对导致植物气孔发育的信号网络的影响。了解这些因素之间错综复杂的联系，包括植物发育的代谢调节，可能使我们能够在不断变化的气候情景下的特定环境条件下最大限度地提高植物生产力。