Viability markers for determination of desiccation tolerance and critical stages during dehydration in Selaginella species

Plants can tolerate some degree of dehydration but below a threshold of water content most plants die. However, some species display specific physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses that allow survival to desiccation. Some of these responses are activated at critical stages during water loss and could represent the difference between desiccation tolerance (DT) and death. Here, we report the development of a simple and reproducible system to determine DT in Selaginella species. This system is based on the use of excised tissue (explants), exposed to a dehydration agent inside small containers, rather than whole plants making it faster, better controlled, and potential use under field conditions. We also report that the triphenyltetrazolium chloride test is a simple and accurate assay to determine tissue viability. The explant system is particularly useful to identify critical points during the dehydration process and was applied to identify novel desiccation-tolerant Selaginella species. Our data suggest that desiccation-sensitive Selaginella species have a change in viability when dehydrated to 40% RWC, indicating the onset of a critical condition at this water content. Comparative studies at these critical stages could provide a better understanding of DT mechanisms and unravel insights into the key responses to survive desiccation. HighlightIn this article, we developed a simple and efficient system to determine desiccation tolerance and critical stages during the dehydration process in Selaginella that can be applied to other plant species.