A desiccation-induced chloroplast DnaJ/HSP40 gene, BhDnaJC6, from the resurrection plant enhances photosynthesis and cotton drought tolerance via interaction with and stabilization of Rieske iron-sulfur protein (PetC) in transgenic cotton plants. Drought stress severely affects cotton productivity and seedling survival. Resurrection plants are known for their unique mechanisms of desiccation tolerance, including the maintenance of photosynthetic proteins during dehydration and rehydration, making their genes valuable for drought-tolerant cotton breeding. Chloroplast DnaJ proteins play roles in protein quality control in plant cells. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a chloroplast-localized C-type DnaJ protein-coding gene BhDnaJC6 from the resurrection plant Boea hygrometrica. BhDnaJC6 transcripts accumulate in response to slow desiccation, and rapid desiccation in acclimated (desiccation-tolerant) but not non-acclimated (desiccation-sensitive) B. hygrometrica plants. Microscopic observation confirmed the cellular localization of BhDnaJC6-GFP in chloroplasts in transiently transformed tobacco guard cells, and its interference with Rieske iron-sulfur protein, the PetC subunit of the cytochrome b6/f complex, fused with mCherry. In silico analysis predicted a possible physical interaction between BhDnaJC6 and Rieske iron-sulfur protein, which was experimentally confirmed using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and yeast two-hybrid assays. When overexpressed in cotton, the BhDnaJC6 transgenic lines displayed higher Rieske iron-sulfur protein levels and improved drought tolerance compared to the wild type. The higher levels of Rieske iron-sulfur protein improve photosynthetic performance in transgenic lines under both non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions, increasing the electron transport rates and actual quantum yields of PSII and decreasing the quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation. Taken together, our findings unveil a novel component enhancing Rieske iron-sulfur protein stability and improving the drought tolerance of transgenic cotton, offering a valuable genetic resource for drought-tolerant cotton breeding.

Opposing regulation of Gig2 by RecA and GlrK controls redox-linked desiccation tolerance in Cronobacter sakazakii.

Combined desiccation treatments of hybrid larch (Larix x eurolepis) somatic embryos resulted in reduced water content keeping their germination and conversion rates: multi-scale characterizations.

Vegetative desiccation tolerance: A rare phenomenon enabling insights into cryopreservation

Proteomic responses to progressive dehydration and rehydration in Xenopus laevis.

Water is essential for all forms of life, and its loss triggers a series of protective responses in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. This review summarizes the fundamental mechanisms that underlie desiccation tolerance, focusing on the phenomenon of anhydrobiosis. Key strategies include osmoprotection, accumulation of compatible solutes such as trehalose and sucrose, protein anti-aggregation, and enhanced antioxidant activity. Osmoadaptation enables cells to regulate osmotic pressure and maintain membrane integrity during water loss. Intrinsically disordered proteins, particularly late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, contribute to protein stabilization by forming molecular shields under desiccation stress. Furthermore, the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), mitigates oxidative damage to nucleic acids and proteins. Together, these mechanisms preserve cellular integrity and functionality, facilitating recovery upon rehydration.

The angiosperm seed life cycle encompasses three broad phases—embryogenesis, maturation, and germination. Seed maturation is particularly critical, bridging embryo development and germination while enabling accumulation of nutrient reserves and acquisition of traits like desiccation tolerance, essential for survival in diverse environments. While embryogenesis and germination in Arabidopsis thaliana are known to follow an hourglass-like phylotranscriptomic pattern (with higher gene expression conservation in the mid-stages), the transcriptomic landscape of seed maturation and the complete seed life cycle remain unexplored. Using publicly available RNA-seq data, we generated transcriptome age index and transcriptome divergence index profiles of all three phases of the Arabidopsis seed life cycle, revealing a reverse hourglass-like phylotranscriptome pattern. Seed maturation exhibited increased expression of younger genes with divergent expression patterns compared to embryogenesis and germination, which was conserved in other dicots and monocots. Tissue-specific analyses revealed that, in monocots, the endosperm has increased expression of younger genes during maturation. We found that, similar to pollen development, seed maturation is a pivotal phase enabling the expression of young, rapidly evolving genes. We propose the “out of the seed” hypothesis, where seed maturation serves as a landscape for expressing new genes and promoting functional specialization.

Crop productivity and food security faces an ever-increasing challenge from drought events world-wide and to establish more drought tolerant crops requires deeper insights into plant dehydration tolerance. We compared the inducible vegetative dehydration tolerance (IVDT) of the moss Physcomitrium patens and the vegetative dehydration sensitivity (VDS) of the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana, using a combination of structural, physiological and transcriptomic analyses. Key components in the IVDT response of P. patens, ELIPs and bZIP transcription factors, were functionally investigated using both transient and stable transformation. Physcomitrium patens exhibited survival after c. 98% water loss, with reversible cellular changes, and a 'shutdown-restart' physiological and transcriptomic program. By contrast, A. thaliana perished below 25% relative water content and suffered irreversible cellular damage. Physcomitrium patens's accumulated protective gene transcripts (e.g. ELIPs, SODs, and bZIPs) during dehydration, whereas Arabidopsis prioritized stress avoidance over protection. Functional validation indicted PpELIPs stabilized photosynthetic pigments in transgenic plants, while PpbZIP transcription factors enhanced water retention via abscisic acid-independent pathways. The comparison of divergent response mechanisms, IVDT and VDS, to dehydration revealed components that protect photosynthesis and alter plant water relations to delay wilting and maintain productivity during water limiting conditions thus offering bryophyte-based strategies for crop improvement for drought tolerance.

Desert plants have evolved remarkable adaptations to survive in arid environments, where water scarcity and extreme temperatures pose significant challenges to life. The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis stands out as an exemplary model of extreme desiccation tolerance (DT), offering invaluable insights into plant adaptation to water deficit. This study presents a comprehensive multi-omics analysis of S. caninervis during controlled dehydration and rehydration process, integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its remarkable resilience. Our findings reveal a sophisticated, multilayered response characterized by extensive transcriptional reprogramming (3,153 differentially expressed genes), dynamic proteome remodeling (873 differentially expressed proteins), and strategic metabolic reconfiguration (185 differentially abundant metabolites). Key adaptations include the coordinated downregulation of photosynthetic processes, upregulation of stress-responsive genes and proteins, accumulation of protective metabolites, and enhancement of antioxidant systems. Notably, we observed significant temporal asynchrony between transcript and protein levels, underscoring the complexity of post-transcriptional regulation in stress responses. The core mechanisms of S. caninervis DT comprises cellular protection and metabolic dormancy during dehydration, followed by efficient repair and recovery processes upon rehydration. These findings not only advance our understanding of plant evolution and adaptation to extreme environments but also identify potential targets for enhancing drought tolerance in crops and exploring plant survival under extreme environment. By deciphering the molecular basis of extreme DT, this research opens new avenues for addressing agricultural challenges in water-limited environments and expands our knowledge of plant life's adaptability to harsh terrestrial.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44154-025-00241-w.

Myrothamnus flabellifolia is a dioecious resurrection plant endemic to southern Africa that has become an important model for understanding desiccation tolerance. Despite its ecological and medicinal significance, genomic and transcriptomic resources for the species are limited. We generated a chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved reference genome assembly and annotation for M. flabellifolia and conducted transcriptomic profiling across a natural dehydration-rehydration time course in the field. Genome architecture and sex determination were characterized, and co-expression network and cis-regulatory element (CRE) enrichment analyses were used to investigate dynamic responses to desiccation. The 1.28-Gb genome exhibits unusually consistent chromatin architecture with unique chromosome organization across highly divergent haplotypes. We identified an XY sexual system with a small sex-determining region on Chromosome 8. Transcriptomic responses varied with dehydration severity, pointing to early suppression of growth, progressive activation of protective mechanisms, and subsequent return to homeostasis upon rehydration. Late embryogenesis abundant and early light-induced protein transcripts were dynamically regulated and showed enrichment of abscisic acid and stress-responsive CREs pointing toward conserved responses. Together, this study provides foundational resources for understanding the genomic architecture and reproductive biology of M. flabellifolia and offers new insights into the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance.

Eragrostis nindensis is a resurrection grass capable of surviving near-complete desiccation. We compared non-senescent leaf tissue (NST) and senescent leaf tissue (ST) to investigate the cellular and molecular basis of desiccation tolerance and senescence. NST recovered fully after drying, while ST failed to regain viability. Integrated transcriptomic (using RNA-Seq), lipidomic (using LC-MS), and ultrastructural (Transmission Electron Microscopical) analyses revealed that NST maintain RNA processing, protein folding, and translational activity during desiccation. Lipidomic data and ultrastructure showed preferential accumulation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) and lipid droplets in NST, supporting membrane protection and energy buffering. In contrast, ST showed cellular collapse, reduced oleosin protein accumulation, and signatures of senescence. These findings highlight the importance of post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation, as well as lipid metabolism, in preserving cellular integrity during desiccation in this species.

Genome-wide identification of histone acetyltransferase members and functional dissection of histone acetylation-mediated desiccation tolerance in Syntrichia caninervis.

Chryseobacterium hilariae sp. nov., Sphingomonas larreae sp. nov., Sphingomonas astragali sp. nov., Sphingomonas radicis sp. nov., Variovorax stachyos sp. nov., Parapedobacter brassicae sp. nov., Neorhizobium descurainiae sp. nov., and Erwinia artemisiae sp. nov. isolated from dry soils revealing a diverse plant growth promoting potential.

Benthic macroinvertebrates are widely used as key indicators in the biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in fragile ecosystems downstream of dams. Nevertheless, the use of non-indigenous biological tools requires regional evaluation, especially for developing countries and rivers with regulated flow in semi-arid regions. The Zayandehrud River is a perennial river in central Iran. Since 1953, it has been subject to inter-basin water transfer projects, and its flow is regulated by reservoirs and diversion dams. This river has recently become increasingly intermittent and fragile due to anthropogenic activities, highlighting the need for tailored assessment methods. This makes it a critical case study for evaluating benthic macroinvertebrate biological tools (BMBTs). Different BMBTs, including community composition, biotic indices (BMWP, ASPT, and LIFE), and the FFGs approach, were evaluated for the Zayandehrud River. According to the results, the macroinvertebrate communities downstream of the Zayandehrud Reservoir Dam (ZRD) showed homogenization of beta diversity due to river regulation, with significant spatial variation in Shannon diversity and community composition. Specifically, BMWP and ASPT indices effectively demonstrated the impact of flow interruptions and regulation. In contrast, the LIFE index, Shannon diversity index and FFGs approach do not accurately represent the environmental conditions, especially drying up of the Zayandehrud River downstream of the Cham-Aseman Diversion Dam (CDD). These methods likely failed because their assumptions (continuous flow and specific sensitivity traits) are inconsistent with the intermittent nature of semi-arid rivers and the desiccation tolerance of their taxa. Consequently, BMBTs must be applied cautiously to avoid misclassifications and misunderstandings in assessing regulated rivers. This underscores the urgent need for regionally adapted BMBTs to inform effective water management and policy decisions.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-21997-1.

Drought stress is a major limiting factor during the process of plant growth and development, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. MYB transcription factors play vital roles in the regulation of many developmental processes under various stresses. The aim of this study was to determine whether PtrMYB119 enhanced dehydration tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum. PtrMYB119, with a weak transactivation activity, was distributed throughout the cell with no apparent specificity. The transgenic tobacco overexpressing PtrMYB119 might regulate dehydration tolerance through increased ABA content and antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased MDA levels, and up-regulation of antioxidant genes, polyamine biosynthesis genes, and drought-responsive genes. Overall, our results could contribute to the elucidation of drought tolerance underlying PtrMYB119 action in tobacco and indicated that PtrMYB119 could be exploited for engineering drought-enduring plants in the future.

The study demonstrates that Macrocoma orthotrichoides employs a poikilochlorophyllous strategy and exhibits rapid photosynthetic recovery, providing novel biochemical and fluorescence-based evidence of desiccation tolerance in this species. Mosses are poikilohydric plants that activate defence mechanisms to protect their tissues and metabolism from dehydration-induced damage, particularly by counteracting the generation/accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we evaluate the responses of Macrocoma orthotrichoides gametophytes to dehydration by analysing chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, metabolite accumulation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in response to ROS production under varying humidity conditions. Fresh gametophyte samples were exposed to controlled moisture regimes, and biochemical analyses revealed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline levels fluctuated in response to dehydration; however, these changes did not fully mitigate oxidative stress and ROS accumulation. Changes in photosynthetic pigment concentrations mirrored enzymatic activity, being consistent with humidity conditions. The decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels during desiccation indicates a poikilochlorophyllous strategy in M. orthotrichoides, with pigments and thylakoid structures being restored upon rehydration. Fluorescence analysis demonstrated that this species tolerates intense dehydration and rapidly regains photosynthetic capacity upon rehydration. Overall, our findings indicate that M. orthotrichoides possesses a suite of biochemical, enzymatic, and physiological adaptations that enable survival and recovery in fluctuating moisture environments, thereby advancing our understanding of desiccation tolerance and photosynthetic resilience in mosses.

Insects rely on cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) to prevent desiccation. CHCs are synthesized in oenocytes and transported through the hemolymph to the epicuticle by lipid carriers (e.g., lipophorin); as a lipid-binding lipocalin, apolipoprotein D (ApoD) can shuttle small hydrophobic ligands, suggesting a mechanistic link to CHC trafficking and deposition. We characterized the gene ApApoD1, encoding a lipocalin-family apolipoprotein D, in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and examined its role in drought tolerance. ApApoD1 is highly conserved among aphids, predominantly expressed in cuticle tissues, and its expression is upregulated in response to desiccation stress. Using an RNA interference (RNAi) approach delivered via a star polycation (SPc) nanocarrier, we achieved 48% silencing of ApApoD1 transcripts. Silencing ApApoD1 resulted in a 48.9% reduction in total CHC content (particularly C27-C31 alkanes), accompanied by a 1.8-fold increase in water loss rate. Consequently, ApApoD1-silenced aphids showed significantly reduced survival time under extreme desiccation (5% relative humidity [RH]). Transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) identified 765 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) due to ApApoD1 silencing, including downregulation of lipid metabolic and cuticle structural genes and upregulation of immune pathway genes (Toll and immune deficiency [Imd]). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment of these DEGs highlighted significant involvement of lipid metabolism, cuticle biosynthesis, and immune signaling pathways. Our findings demonstrate that ApApoD1 is a critical regulator of cuticular lipid accumulation and desiccation tolerance in aphids, and suggest that disrupting this gene via RNAi could increase pest susceptibility to drought stress, providing a potential strategy for aphid management.

Odorant receptor-expressing cells have been shown to recognize various odors, which has brought them to the interest of the growing field of cell-based olfactory sensors. However, cell cultures are difficult to use outside a laboratory because of their continuous need for controlled conditions. In this study, the odorant receptor DmOr47a, the co-receptor DmOrco, and the calcium-sensing fluorescent protein GCaMP6f were stably expressed in a Pv11 cell line (Pv11-00443-Or47a), which is desiccatable. This cell line not only retained desiccation tolerance, but also showed dose-dependent fluorescence responses to the DmOr47a ligand pentyl acetate that were recovered 12 h after rehydration. Even more importantly, Pv11-00443-Or47a showed a response to the agonist of DmOrco just 1 h after rehydration, even upon inhibition of protein synthesis. This result demonstrates for the first time that a transmembrane protein can be dry-stored in an orthologous cell culture system. This work also constitutes an initial step towards the development of improved desiccatable sensing cells for use in portable devices.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-19627-x.

Coping with both UV-B radiation and desiccation was essential for early land plants. In bryophytes, UV-B screening and desiccation tolerance partially depend on the physico-chemical features of cell walls, which may also constrain photosynthesis. This study tested the relationship between the accumulation of UV absorbing compounds (UVACs) and photosynthetic capacity and desiccation tolerance. Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, desiccation tolerance and UVACs were analyzed for Colombian, Antarctic, Spanish and Australian species collected from locations of contrasting UV exposure. Apparent photosynthesis, quantum efficiency and heat dissipation were measured using PAM-coupled systems. Desiccation tolerance was evaluated by recovery of Fv/Fm after long-term dry storage (14 days). Cell wall-bound and soluble UVACs were quantified through spectrophotometry after methanolic and alkali extraction. Trait relationships were assessed by correlation tests and quantile regression. A boundary line trade-off was found between apparent photosynthesis and cell wall-bound UVACs: no species simultaneously exhibited both high photosynthetic rates and large amounts of UVACs in its cell walls. The three phyla of bryophytes were segregated across this gradient, with mosses showing the highest photosynthetic capacity, but lowest UVACs and liverworts and hornworts presenting the highest UVACs together with low photosynthetic rates. No trend was observed with chlorophyll concentration or quantum efficiency of photosystem II. Long-term desiccation tolerance was not correlated with either cell wall-bound nor soluble UVACs. On the contrary, it was associated with non-photochemical quenching, which is possibly linked to a minimum ROS scavenging capacity indispensable for recovering functionality after a long-term desiccation/rehydration cycle. Bryophytes exhibit a boundary-line trade-off between UV protection and photosynthetic capacity, possibly driven by limitations to CO2 diffusion associated with the accumulation of cell wall-bound UVAC. In contrast, desiccation tolerance appears to rely on different physiological mechanisms, related to heat dissipation.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play a crucial role in the desiccation tolerance of resurrection plants, although their exact functions remain unclear. Therefore, we recombinantly produced desiccation-induced LEA4 protein member, RsLEAP30-His6, from Ramonda serbica and investigated its structural behaviour under simulated dehydration conditions. This is the first report on the production and purification of a recombinant LEA protein from the resurrection plant R. serbica. By immobilised metal affinity and size-exclusion chromatography, we successfully obtained RsLEAP30-His6 with a purity of over 95%, thus providing a robust and scalable method that can also be used for the production of other LEA proteins. Structural characterisation by circular dichroism spectroscopy in combination with in silico modelling, revealed that RsLEAP30 is predominantly disordered under fully hydrated conditions, whereas it adopts an α-helical structure under desiccation-like conditions and in the presence of a lipid mimetic. This disorder-to-order transition underpins the possible protective role of RsLEAP30 in chloroplasts, likely through interactions with thylakoids and desiccation-sensitive proteins enabling the rapid recovery of photosynthetic components upon rehydration. Our study provides new insights into the structure–function relationship of LEA proteins in desiccation tolerance and creates a basis for future bioengineering strategies to improve crop drought tolerance.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18648-w.