Abstract
In our experimental conditions detached leaves of the resurrection plant Boea hygroscopica survived equilibration to 65–80% RH (Relative Humidity), but not to very low RH (close to 0%). The first aim of our research was to determine whether sensitivity to equilibration to very low RH depends on the rate of the drying process or on the very low final MC (Moisture Content) attained. The second aim of our research was to determine ABA content of leaves exposed to the two drying processes: a first step towards understanding whether ABA is involved in the tolerance mechanism of Boea hygroscopica.
Detached leaves were equilibrated either to 1.4 or to 60–70% RH or to various temporal combinations of these two RH. ABA content was monitored during drying. Dehydrated leaves were imbibed in liquid water either directly or after a slow rehydration at 98% RH. Tolerance was assessed after 48 h imbibition in liquid water.
The low final MC attained (about 3%) and not the rate of drying was responsible of the sensitivity of leaves equilibrated to 1.4% RH. Slow rehydration attained better recovery, but it was not able to allow full “resurrection” thus suggesting that a plain biophysical liquid-crystalline to gel phase transition of the membrane lipid bilayer could not fully account for the lethal damage of the very low MC.
The conclusions relative to the first part of our research was of primary importance in interpreting results concerning ABA variations during the two drying treatments. ABA showed a very similar transient increase when excised leaves were dried at either 1.4% RH (sensitive leaves) or at 60–70% RH (tolerant leaves). However we cannot exclude that the transient increase of the hormone is a necessary component of the desiccation tolerance mechanisms in detached leaves of Boea hygroscopica: the extremely low MC reached by equilibration to 1.4% RH may impair the mechanism itself.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartels D, Schneider K, Terstappen G, Piatkowski D and Salamini F (1990) Molecular cloning of abscisic acid-modulated genes which are induced during desiccation of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum. Planta 181: 27-34
Crowe JH, Hoekstra FA and Crowe LM (1989) Membrane phase transitions are responsible for imbibitional damage in dry pollen. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86: 520-523
Crowe JH, Hoekstra FA and Crowe LM(1992) Anhydrobiosis. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 54: 579-599
Gaff DF (1980) Protoplasmic tolerance of extreme stresses. In: Turner NC and Kramer PJ (eds) Adaptation of Plants to Water and High Temperature Stress, pp 207-230. New York: A Wiley-Interscience
Gaff DF (1989) Responses of desiccation tolerant "resurrection" plants to water stress. In: Kreeb KH, Richter H and Hinkley TM (eds) Structural and Functional Responses to Environmental Stresses, pp 255-268. The Hague: Academic Publishing
Gaff DF and Loveys BR (1984) Abscisic acid content and effects during dehydration of detached leaves of desiccation tolerant plants. J. Exp. Bot. 35: 1350-1358
Gaff DF and Loveys BR (1992) Abscisic acid levels in drying plants of a resurrection grass. Transactions of Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 3: 286-287
Hellwege EM, Dietz KJ, Volk OH and Hartung W (1994) Abscisic acid and the induction of desiccation tolerance in the extremely xerophilic liverwort Exormotheca holstii. Planta 194: 525-531
Michel D, Furini A, Salamini F and Bartels D (1994) Structure and regulation of an ABA-and desiccation-responsive gene from the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum. Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 549-560
Navari Izzo F, Ricci F, Vazzana C and Quartacci MF (1995) Unusual composition of thylakoid membranes of the resurrection plant Boea hygroscopica: Changes in lipids upon dehydration and rehydration. Physiol. Plant. 94: 135-142
Piatkowski D, Schneider K, Salamini F and Bartels D (1990) Characterization of five abscisic acid-responsive cDNA isolated from the desiccation-tolerant plant Craterostigma plantagineum and their relationship to other water-stress genes. Plant Physiol. 94: 1682-1688
Reynolds TL and Bewley JD (1993a) Characterization of protein synthetic changes in a desiccation-tolerant fern, Polypodium virginianum. Comparison of the effects of drying, rehydration and abscisic acid. J. Exp. Bot. 44: 921- 928
Reynolds TL and Bewley D (1993b) Abscisic acid enhances the ability of the desiccation - tolerant fern Polypodium virginianum to withstand drying. J. Exp. Bot. 44: 1771-1779
Schiller P and Hartung W (1996) Abscisic acid (ABA) relations in the resurrection plant Lindernia intrepidus. J. Exp. Bot. 47(Supplement) (Plant Biology Abstracts. SEB Annual meeting): 47
Schneider K, Wells B, Schmelzer E, Salamini F and Bartels D (1993) Desiccation leads to the rapid accumulation of both cytosolic and chloroplastic proteins in the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst. Planta 189: 120-131
Senaratna T and McKersie BD (1986) Loss of desiccation tolerance during seed germination: A free radical mechanism of injury. In: Leopold C (ed) Membranes, Metabolism and Dry Organisms, pp 85-99. Ithaca, USA: Comstock Publishing Associates
Sgherri CLM, Loggini B, Bochicchio A and Navari-Izzo F (1994) Antioxidant system in Boea hygroscopica: Changes in response to desiccation and rehydration. Phytochemistry 37: 377-381
Sherwin HW and Farrant JM (1996) Rehydration of three desiccation-tolerant species. Ann. Bot. 78: 703-710
Sherwin HW (1995) Desiccation tolerance and sensitivity in vegetative tissues. PhD thesis. University of Natal - Durban. Private Bag X10 Dalbridge 4014 South Africa
Tetteroo FAA, De Bruijn AY, Henselmans RNM, Wolkers WF, van Aelst AC and Hoekstra FA (1996) Characterization of membrane properties in desiccation-tolerant and-intolerant carrot somatic embryos. Plant Physiol. 111: 403-412
Velasco R, Salamini F and Bartels D (1994) Dehydration and ABA increase mRNA levels and enzyme activity of cytosolic GAPDH in the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum. Plant Mol. Biol. 26: 541-546
Vernieri P, Perata P, Armellini D, Bugnoli M, Presentini R, Lorenzi R, Ceccarelli N, Alpi A and Tognoni F (1989) Solid phase radioimmunoassay for the quantitation of abscisic acid in plant crude extracts using a new monoclonal antibody. J. Plant Physiol. 134: 441-446
Vertucci C and Farrant J (1995) Acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance. In: Kiger J and Galili G(eds) Seed Development and Germination, pp 237-271. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc
Zeevaart JAD and Creelman RA (1988) Metabolism and physiology of abscisic acid. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 39: 439-473
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bochicchio, A., Vazzana, C., Puliga, S. et al. Moisture content of the dried leaf is critical to desiccation tolerance in detached leaves of the resurrection plant Boea hygroscopica. Plant Growth Regulation 24, 163–170 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005808107259
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005808107259