脱水和复水过程中金发藓(Polytrichum commune)与湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)叶绿素荧光特性变化的比较研究

以来自不同水分生境的金发藓(Polytrichum commune)和湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)为材料,利用叶绿素荧光成像技术比较了脱水和复水过程中两种藓类的荧光光响应曲线、光系统Ⅱ光能转化效率(ratio ofchlorophyll variation fluorescence,Fv/Fm)、光系统Ⅱ光量子产量(quantum yielding of PSⅡ,Y(Ⅱ))、光化学猝灭(photochemical quenching,qP)和非光化学猝灭(none-photochemical quenching,NPQ)的变化.结果显示,在脱水过程中,金发藓的抑制光强可维持在800μmol/(m2.s)以上,而湿地匐灯藓可低至400μmol/(m2.s)左右;金发藓ETR(electron transportation rate)值始终可维持在20附近,而湿地匐灯藓可降至0;两种藓类的Fv/Fm、Y(Ⅱ)、qP均下降,但金发藓较湿地匐灯藓高;NPQ先升后降,金发藓的峰值早于湿地匐灯藓,而幅度低于湿地匐灯藓.在复水过程中,两种藓类抑制光强和ETR均迅速恢复后略有下降,金发藓的恢复较湿地匐灯藓慢但波动小;两种藓类Fv/Fm和Y(Ⅱ)均能恢复到正常水平,金发藓均高于湿地匐灯藓;两种藓类qP略有上升,NPQ则略有下降.说明藓类植物对脱水伤害的耐受能力主要体现在复水的修复能力上,而脱水持续和程度会对不同生境的藓类产生不同的胁迫效应.从光保护能力的角度来看,生活于易产生水分亏缺条件下的金发藓比生活在水分充沛条件下的湿地匐灯藓具有更强的脱水耐受能力.     

尖叶拟船叶藓光系统Ⅱ光合荧光特性、活性氧代谢与耐脱水生理生态适应的关系

以广布湿生藓类——湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)为比较材料,研究东亚特有濒危植物尖叶拟船叶藓(Dolichomitriopsis diversiformis)在不同快速脱水和复水胁迫下PSⅡ的叶绿素光合荧光变化和活性氧代谢及抗氧化系统变化,探讨两种藓类生理生态适应性差异的成因,以初步确定尖叶拟船叶藓受水分条件限制分布狭窄趋于濒危的原因。结果显示:(1)尖叶拟船叶藓的光合电子传递在脱水后可被极微弱光完全抑制,其抑制光强的恢复明显慢于湿地匐灯藓;其PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和实际光化学量子效率(YⅡ)先降而后升,恢复较慢;光化学淬灭(q P)复水后恢复较快,非光化学淬灭(NPQ)的绝对值和变化速率则始终低于湿地匐灯藓。(2)尖叶拟船叶藓活性氧水平明显高于湿地匐灯藓;其SOD、CAT、APX等抗氧化系统酶活性整体变化幅度较大,抗氧化保护物质(As A)含量则明显低于湿地匐灯藓。以上结果表明尖叶拟船叶藓受到环境水分因子限制的原因主要有:(1)PSⅡ的反应中心色素(P680)对脱水伤害较为敏感;(2)复水修复过程中抗氧化保护系统的保护能力偏低。     

荒漠齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)非结构性碳水化合物含量对植株脱水的响应

苔藓结皮作为生物土壤结皮演替的最高阶段和生物量的最主要贡献者,具有很强的环境适应性,对维持荒漠地表稳定和改善微环境具有重要作用。非结构性碳水化合物是植物重要的组成部分,能够抵御环境胁迫对植物造成的损伤。目前,荒漠藓类植物非结构碳水化合物对干旱的响应机制尚不清楚。选取古尔班通古特沙漠南缘和腹地苔藓结皮中优势藓类植物齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)为研究对象,对其在复水后脱水过程中非结构性碳水化合物含量变化特征进行了分析。结果表明:植株含水量在脱水24 h内下降趋势显著,此后趋于稳定。可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖、淀粉含量在脱水1h内显著下降。可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖、淀粉含量在脱水2—16 h没有显著的变化。但16—24 h可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖、淀粉含量出现显著增加,脱水24—48 h,腹地齿肋赤藓可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖、淀粉含量缓慢下降到复水前水平,而南缘可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖含量低于复水前水平。复水前不同地区齿肋赤藓非结构性碳水化合物含量存在显著性差异,脱水结束后两个地区齿肋赤藓非结构碳水化合物含量无显著差异。结果说明齿肋赤藓在不同地区其非结构性碳水化合物含量不同,在同一脱复水过程中不同地区齿肋赤藓非结构性碳水化合物含量表现出不同的变化趋势,主要原因是可溶性糖含量对脱水过程中水分胁迫的响应不同。齿肋赤藓脱水过程中非结构性碳水化合物的研究,有助于抗旱非维管植物在干旱环境中从降雨湿润进入干旱过程的适应策略研究。     

镉胁迫下3种藓类植物抗氧化酶活性变化的比较研究

采用水培实验研究了重金属Cd对3种藓类植物尖叶拟船叶藓(Dolichomitriopsis diversiformis)、湿地匍灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)和匍枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)的抗氧化酶系统(SOD、POD和CAT)的影响.结果表明,在1-100 mg·L-1的镉胁迫浓度范围内,Cd对3种藓类植物的SOD活性都具有显著的促进作用,SOD对Cd胁迫的种间敏感性顺序为尖叶拟船叶藓>湿地匍灯藓>匍枝青藓;3种藓类植物的POD和CAT活性对Cd胁迫均表现为先升后降,POD对Cd胁迫的种间敏感性顺序为匍枝青藓>湿地匍灯藓>尖叶拟船叶藓;高浓度Cd对CAT具有明显的抑制效应,CAT对Cd胁迫的种间敏感性顺序为湿地匍灯藓>尖叶拟船叶藓>匍枝青藓.在Cd长期胁迫下,SOD对3种藓类植物体内活性氧的清除起到关键作用,可作为藓类植物抗镉能力强弱的敏感生理指标;3种鲜类植物中匍枝青藓的抗镉能力最强,湿地匍灯藓次之,尖叶拟船叶藓最弱,并且这种抗性与cd在植物体内的积累成反相关.     

脱水与复水过程中湿地匍灯藓的生理生化响应

研究了脱水与复水过程中湿地匍灯藓的渗透调节能力、抗氧化保护系统以及DNA损伤与修复的影响。结果表明:(1)在脱水过程中,游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、还原性糖含量均出现明显增加,脱水12h时达到最大;细胞膜透性上升;超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶活性均持续上升,抗坏血酸含量则逐渐降低;DNA损伤明显加大,脱水24h时DNA已全部降解为低分子量片段。(2)在复水过程中,以上各项指标变化趋势与脱水处理时刚好相反。表明湿地匍灯藓具备复苏植物的典型特征,在含水量变化(变水)过程中具有较强的抗干(旱)性,其抗逆性主要体现为修复能力。     

铅胁迫对3种藓类植物抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用水培实验研究了重金属Pb对3种藓类植物尖叶拟船叶藓(Dolichomitriopsis diversiformis)、湿地匍灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)和匍枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)的抗氧化酶(SOD、POD和CAT)活性的影响.结果表明,(1)在1~200 mg·L-1的铅胁迫浓度范围内,Pb对3种藓类植物的SOD活性均具有显著的促进作用,对Pb胁迫的种间敏感性差异为尖叶拟船叶藓>湿地匍灯藓>匍枝青藓;(2)POD活性对Pb胁迫的反应趋势有一定差别,尖叶拟船叶藓和匍枝青藓的POD活性随Pb浓度的增加先升后降,湿地匍灯藓的POD活性变化较为平缓,种间敏感性差异为匍枝青藓>尖叶拟船叶藓>湿地匍灯藓;(3)在100 mg·L-1时Pb对湿地匍灯藓CAT活性表现为显著促进作用外,其余在低浓度下显示无显著影响,在高浓度下表现为抑制效应,种间敏感性差异为尖叶拟船叶藓>匍枝青藓>湿地匍灯藓.3种藓类植物的抗氧化酶体系中对Pb胁迫的抵抗起关键作用的是SOD,可作为藓类植物受Pb胁迫的敏感生理指标.3种植物中对Pb胁迫的反应较为敏感的是尖叶拟船叶藓.     

铅胁迫对3种藓类植物细胞伤害及光合色素含量的影响

采用水培实验研究了重金属Pb2+胁迫下3种藓类植物[尖叶拟船叶藓(Dolichomitriopsis diversiformis)、湿地匍灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum)和匍枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)]的细胞伤害、光合色素含量和Pb2+累积量的变化,以探讨藓类植物对Pb2+胁迫的反应敏感性和耐性强弱.结果表明:(1)Pb2+胁迫导致尖叶拟船叶藓、湿地葡灯藓和匍枝青藓叶细胞显著损伤的最低浓度分别为100、1和10 mg·L-1,叶细胞伤害随Pb2+浓度的升高而显著增加,它们对高浓度Pb2+的耐受性顺序为尖叶拟船叶藓>湿地匍灯藓>匍枝青藓;(2)低浓度Pb2+胁迫(小于100 mg·L-1)对3种藓类植物的总叶绿素含量均没有影响,高浓度Pb2+胁迫则导致总叶绿素含量显著下降,降幅依次为匍枝青藓>湿地匍灯藓>尖叶拟船叶藓;叶绿素a/b值显示,高浓度Pb2+胁迫对尖叶拟船叶藓叶绿素b的抑制远大于叶绿素a,而对匍枝青藓和湿地葡灯藓使叶绿素a的抑制大于叶绿素b;当Pb2+胁迫浓度达到200 mg·L-1时3种藓类植物的类胡萝卜素含量显著降低;(3)3种藓类植物均能显著地富集Pb2+,高浓度Pb2+胁迫下,其富集能力急剧增加,而且与其耐受性呈正相关.     

微生境对耐旱石生毛尖紫萼藓水分保持与散失特性的影响

毛尖紫萼藓(Grimmia pilifera)是典型石生耐旱藓类,水分是其生存繁衍的关键影响因素。为探究微生境对毛尖紫萼藓水分生理的影响,在安徽省大龙山国家森林公园低山丘陵区选择3种典型微生境(竹林遮蔽S-1,向阳裸岩E,薜荔灌丛遮蔽S-2),对比研究毛尖紫萼藓个体大小、饱和含水量及脱水过程中的含水量指标在不同微生境间的差异性,综合判断微生境对苔藓水分胁迫耐受性的影响及其权衡特征。结果表明:3种微生境毛尖紫萼藓个体大小及饱和含水量差异显著,其中竹林遮蔽生境毛尖紫萼藓具有较小的个体但拥有较高的内、外含水量。向阳裸岩和薜荔灌丛遮蔽生境植株大小及外吸水量接近,但前者内含水量更高。两荫蔽生境苔藓外吸水量是内吸水量的7倍,显著高于向阳裸岩生境的5.8倍。脱水过程中相同时间点向阳裸岩生境苔藓各含水量指标均高于两遮蔽生境,且达到相同含水量的时间差也随脱水进程持续而逐渐增大,这为向阳裸岩生境苔藓的有效光合作用(即相对含水量不低于35%时)及脱水后期的生理和结构调整赢得更多时间。综合而言,向阳裸岩生境毛尖紫萼藓比荫蔽生境具有更强的脱水耐受性,但后者可以通过增加外部吸水量来弥补失水过快的缺陷,这可能是不同微生境毛尖紫萼藓对水分吸收和保持的权衡策略。     

冻融过程对荒漠区不同微生境下齿肋赤藓渗透调节物含量和抗氧化酶活力的影响

齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)作为典型的耐旱藓类, 广泛分布于世界干旱和半干旱荒漠地区, 是古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮中的优势藓类植物。该沙漠冬季具有稳定的降雪, 初春的积雪融化为植物的生长提供了良好的水热条件。荒漠藓类植物叶片仅具一层细胞, 对外界环境的变化十分敏感, 有关荒漠藓类植物在冬季和早春地表冻融交替过程中如何适应环境剧烈变化的研究鲜见报道。该研究探讨了生长于3种不同微生境(活灌丛、枯死灌丛和裸露地)下的齿肋赤藓, 经由冬季低温冻结到早春融雪复水再到春季中旬自然干燥过程中的生理生化变化特征。结果表明: 不同冻融期、微生境及二者的交互作用能够显著影响齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物质(游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性(过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性)。冬季低温冻结期的极端低温和春季中旬的干燥环境使得齿肋赤藓可溶性糖和MDA含量, 以及3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于早春融雪期, 可溶性蛋白含量显著低于融雪期。同时, 在融雪期灌丛遮阴所形成的“冷岛效应”使得生长于灌丛下的齿肋赤藓植株可溶性糖和MDA含量显著高于枯死灌丛和裸露地。但灌丛的存在也为春季中旬干旱无雨期齿肋赤藓提供了一个相对良好(含水量高)的生活环境, 其下齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物含量和抗氧化酶活性均显著低于其他两个生境。在整个冻融过程中裸露地齿肋赤藓的3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于灌丛下, 这可能是由于生活于裸露地的苔藓有更强的耐胁迫特性。     

Impacts of freeze-thaw processes on antioxidant activities and osmolyte contents of Syntrichia caninervis under different desert microhabitats

 齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)作为典型的耐旱藓类, 广泛分布于世界干旱和半干旱荒漠地区, 是古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮中的优势藓类植物。该沙漠冬季具有稳定的降雪, 初春的积雪融化为植物的生长提供了良好的水热条件。荒漠藓类植物叶片仅具一层细胞, 对外界环境的变化十分敏感, 有关荒漠藓类植物在冬季和早春地表冻融交替过程中如何适应环境剧烈变化的研究鲜见报道。该研究探讨了生长于3种不同微生境(活灌丛、枯死灌丛和裸露地)下的齿肋赤藓, 经由冬季低温冻结到早春融雪复水再到春季中旬自然干燥过程中的生理生化变化特征。结果表明: 不同冻融期、微生境及二者的交互作用能够显著影响齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物质(游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性(过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性)。冬季低温冻结期的极端低温和春季中旬的干燥环境使得齿肋赤藓可溶性糖和MDA含量, 以及3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于早春融雪期, 可溶性蛋白含量显著低于融雪期。同时, 在融雪期灌丛遮阴所形成的“冷岛效应”使得生长于灌丛下的齿肋赤藓植株可溶性糖和MDA含量显著高于枯死灌丛和裸露地。但灌丛的存在也为春季中旬干旱无雨期齿肋赤藓提供了一个相对良好(含水量高)的生活环境, 其下齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物含量和抗氧化酶活性均显著低于其他两个生境。在整个冻融过程中裸露地齿肋赤藓的3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于灌丛下, 这可能是由于生活于裸露地的苔藓有更强的耐胁迫特性。     

Ultrastructural responses of the desiccation tolerant plants Xerophyta viscosa and X. retinervis to dehydration and rehydration

This paper compares the changes in water content, chlorophyll a fluorescence and leaf ultrastructure during dehydration and rehydration in two desiccation tolerant plants Xerophyta viscosa and X. retinervis. Both species showed decreasing quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (F_v/F_m) with decreasing water content. Extreme water loss observed after 25 d of dehydration resulted in considerable damage of leaf tissue ultrastructure. After rehydration, both species need several days to reconstitute their photosynthetic machinery.     

Differential proteomics of dehydration and rehydration in bryophytes: evidence towards a common desiccation tolerance mechanism

All bryophytes evolved desiccation tolerance (DT) mechanisms during the invasion of terrestrial habitats by early land plants. Are these DT mechanisms still present in bryophytes that colonize aquatic habitats? The aquatic bryophyte Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. was subjected to two drying regimes and alterations in protein profiles and sucrose accumulation during dehydration and rehydration were investigated. Results show that during fast dehydration, there is very little variation in protein profiles, and upon rehydration proteins are leaked. On the other hand, slow dehydration induces changes in both dehydration and rehydration protein profiles, being similar to the protein profiles displayed by the terrestrial bryophytes Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) Bruch and Schimp. and, to what is comparable with Syntrichia ruralis (Hedw.) F. Weber and D. Mohr. During dehydration there was a reduction in proteins associated with photosynthesis and the cytoskeleton, and an associated accumulation of proteins involved in sugar metabolism and plant defence mechanisms. Upon rehydration, protein accumulation patterns return to control values for both photosynthesis and cytoskeleton whereas proteins associated with sugar metabolism and defence proteins remain high. The current results suggest that bryophytes from different ecological adaptations may share common DT mechanisms.     

柳杉种植对黔西南喀斯特山区金发藓沼泽植物群落和储水功能的影响

藓类沼泽对喀斯特山区生物多样性维持和水源涵养有重要作用,需加强人工林种植对喀斯特山区藓类沼泽生态功能影响的研究。以黔西南典型金发藓沼泽为研究对象,分析了人工柳杉林对林下金发藓植物群落和金发藓沼泽储水功能的影响。主要研究结果为：1）柳杉种植对金发藓植物群落有负面影响。随柳杉密度增加,林下金发藓植物群落的盖度、平均高度和物种多样性显著下降;2）表层土壤含水量是金发藓沼泽储水量的主要贡献者。柳杉种植显著提高了干季表层土壤的含水量,但高密度柳杉林显著降低了雨季表层土壤的含水量;柳杉种植未对干季金发藓含水量造成影响,低密度柳杉林显著提高了雨季金发藓植物的含水量;3）柳杉密度对金发藓沼泽生态系统储水量的影响存在明显季节差异：在雨季呈负影响,在干季呈正影响;4）柳杉种植有利于维持金发藓沼泽储水能力的稳定性,尤其是当柳杉密度较低时这种效果更明显。表明人工柳杉林对金发藓沼泽的影响是非线性的,合适密度的柳杉种植可提升金发藓沼泽的储水能力。     

Sip18 hydrophilin prevents yeast cell death during desiccation stress

Aims: For this study, we performed a genetic screen of S. cerevisiae’s deletion library for mutants sensitive to dehydration stress, with which we aimed to discover cell dehydration–tolerant genes. Methods and Results: We used a yeast gene deletion set (YGDS) of 4850 viable mutant haploid strains to perform a genome‐wide screen for the identification of desiccation stress modifiers. SIP18 is among the genes identified as essential for cells surviving to drying/rehydration process. Deletion of SIP18 promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and enhances apoptotic and necrotic cell death in response to dehydration/rehydration process. Conclusions: SIP18p acts as an inhibitor of apoptosis in yeast under dehydration stress, as suggested by its antioxidative capacity through the ROS accumulation reduction after an H₂O₂ attack. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic screen for the identification of putative genes essential to overcoming cell dehydration process. A broad range of identified genes could help to understand why some strains of high biotechnological interest cannot cope with the drying and rehydration treatments. Dehydration sensitivity makes these strains not suitable to be commercialized by yeast manufactures.     

Effects of dehydration rate on physiological responses and survival after rehydration in larvae of the anhydrobiotic chironomid

Strategies to combat desiccation are critical for organisms living in arid and semi-arid areas. Larvae of the Australian chironomid Paraborniella tonnoiri resist desiccation by reducing water loss. In contrast, larvae of the African species Polypedilum vanderplanki can withstand almost complete dehydration, referred to as anhydrobiosis. For successful anhydrobiosis, the dehydration rate of P. vanderplanki larvae has to be controlled. Here, we desiccated larvae by exposing them to different drying regimes, each progressing from high to low relative humidity, and examined survival after rehydration. In larvae of P. vanderplanki, reactions following desiccation can be categorized as follows: (I) no recovery at all (direct death), (II) dying by unrepairable damages after rehydration (delayed death), and (III) full recovery (successful anhydrobiosis). Initial conditions of desiccation severely affected survival following rehydration, i.e. P. vanderplanki preferred 100% relative humidity where body water content decreased slightly. In subsequent conditions, unfavorable dehydration rate, such as more than 0.7 mg water lost per day, resulted in markedly decreased survival rate of rehydrated larvae. Slow dehydration may be required for the synthesis and distribution of essential molecules for anhydrobiosis. Larvae desiccated at or above maximum tolerable rates sometimes showed temporary recovery but died soon after.     

Characterization of oxidative and antioxidative events during dehydration and rehydration of resurrection plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ramonda nathaliae</Emphasis>

In order to investigate changes of oxidative status in relation to the activity of the various protective mechanisms in resurrection plant Ramonda nathaliae, we have analysed time and relative water content (RWC) related changes in lipid peroxidation and ion leakage, hydrogen peroxide accumulation, changes of pigment content and antioxidative enzyme activity, together with expression of dehydrins. The results indicate that enhanced oxidative status during dehydration, not previously reported for resurrection plants, could play an active role in inducing the desiccation adaptive response in R. nathaliae. A critical phase is shown to exist during dehydration (in the range of RWC between 50 and 70%) during which a significant increase in hydrogen peroxide accumulation, lipid peroxidation and ion leakage, accompanied by a general decline in antioxidative enzyme activity, takes place. This phase is designated as a transition characterized by change in the type of stress response. The initial response, relying mainly on the enzymatic antioxidative system, is suspended but more effective, desiccation specific protective mechanisms, such as expression of dehydrins, are then switched on. The expression of dehydrins in R. nathaliae could be inducible as well as constitutive. In order to cope with the oxidative stress associated with rapid rewatering, R. nathaliae reactivated antioxidative enzymes. We propose that controlled elevation of reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide, could be an important mechanism enabling resurrection plants to sense dehydration and to trigger an adaptive programme at an appropriate stage during the dehydration/rehydration cycle.     

Desiccation tolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurostima purpurea</Emphasis> (Velloziaceae)

Previous works suggested that Pleurostima purpurea (Velloziaceae—Barbacenioideae) shows a remarkable capacity to endure desiccation of its vegetative tissues. P. purpurea occurs in monocotyledons mats on soil islands in the Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf) one of the most recognizable rock outcrops of the world, in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Mats of P. purpurea occur in cliffs by the sea some meters above the tidal zone. Although living in rock outcrops almost devoid of any soil cover, P. purpurea seems to occur preferably on less exposed rock faces and slightly shady sites. Usually, less extreme adaptations to drought would be expected in plants with the habitat preference of P. purpurea. Relying on this observation, we argue if a combination of different strategies of dealing with low water availability can be found in P. purpurea as on other desiccation tolerant angiosperms. This study aims to examine the occurrence of desiccation tolerant behavior in P. purpurea together with the expression of drought avoidance mechanisms during dehydration progression. For this, it was analyzed the gas exchanges, leaf pigments and relative leaf water content during desiccation and rehydration of cultivated mature individuals. P. purpurea behaved like typical drought avoiders under moderated drought condition with stomatal closure occurring around a relative leaf water content up to 90%. During this process, it was observed a delay in the leaf relative water content (RWC _leaf) decrease comparing to the plant-soil relative water content (RWC _plant-soil). As soil dehydration worsened, gas exchanges restrictions progressed until a lack of activity which characterizes anabiosis. The loss of chlorophyll occurs before the end of total dehydration, characterizing the presence of poikilochlorophylly. The chlorophyll degradation follows the RWC _leaf decrease, which achieved the minimum average value of 17% without incurring in leaf abscission. The chlorophyll re-synthesis seems to start well after the full rehydration of the leaf. During all of this process, carotenoid content remained stable. These results are coherent with a combination of drought avoidance and desiccation tolerance in P. purpurea which seems to be coherent with the amplitude of water availability in the rock outcrop habitat where it occurs, suggesting that the periods of water availability are sufficiently long for the success of the costly desiccation tolerant behavior but too short to make a typical drought avoider species win the competition for exploring the rock outcrop substrate where P. purpurea occurs.     

Delayed fluorescence as a new screening method of plant species for urban greening: an experimental study using four bryophytes

Selecting suitable plant species is important in urban greening because urban environments often provide unfavorable conditions for plant growth. We focused on delayed fluorescence (DF), i.e., light emitted from plants immediately following light exposure as a result of back electron transfer in photosynthesis, as an indicator of photosynthetic activity. Moss greening, urban greening using bryophytes, has attracted attention as a new domain of greening that does not require soil. Therefore, tolerance to drying, which is a characteristic environmental factor in cities, of four bryophytes—Bryum argenteum Hedw., Racomitrium japonicum Dozy et Molk., Hypnum plumaeforme Wilson, and Polytrichum commune Hedw.—was evaluated in the laboratory using DF. Assuming an urban environment, experiments were performed to measure the transition of DF following the cessation of irrigation and re-watering. The recovery of accumulated DF values (0–200 s) by rehydration 8 days after irrigation cessation was increased in the order H. plumaeforme ≈ P. commune?<?R. japonicum?<?B. argenteum. B. argenteum presented an increase in the accumulated amount of DF 8 h after irrigation cessation, and presented a significantly higher DF when compared with the other three species at 16 h. Together with results of previous studies, these findings of desiccation tolerance in the studied species indicate that DF is a useful method for characterizing desiccation tolerance in plants and selecting potentially useful plants for urban greening.

     

Dehydration rate and time of desiccation affect recovery of the lichenic algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trebouxia erici</Emphasis>: alternative and classical protective mechanisms

The mechanisms involved in desiccation tolerance of lichens and their photobionts are still poorly understood. To better understand these mechanisms we have studied dehydration rate and desiccation time in Trebouxia, the most abundant chlorophytic photobiont in lichen. Our findings indicate that the drying rate has a profound effect on the recovery of photosynthetic activity of algae after rehydration, greater than the effects of desiccation duration. The basal fluorescence (F′_o) values in desiccated algae were significantly higher after rapid dehydration, than after slow dehydration, suggesting higher levels of light energy dissipation in slow-dried algae. Higher values of PSII electron transport were recovered after rehydration of slow-dried Trebouxia erici compared to rapid-dried algae. The main component of non-photochemical quenching after slow dehydration was energy dependent (q _E), whereas after fast dehydration it was photoinhibition (q _I). Although q _E seems to play a role during desiccation recovery, no significant variations were detected in the xanthophyll cycle components. Desiccation did not affect PSI functionality. Classical antioxidant activities like superoxide dismutase or peroxidase decreased during desiccation and early recovery. Dehydrins were detected in the lichen-forming algae T. erici and were constitutively expressed. There is probably a minimal period required to develop strategies which will facilitate transition to the desiccated state in this algae. In this process, the xanthophyll cycle and classical antioxidant mechanisms play a very limited role, if any. However, our results indicate that there is an alternative mechanism of light energy dissipation during desiccation, where activation is dependent on a sufficiently slow dehydration rate.