DESICCATION-TOLERANT PLANT SPECIES

 

Latest Context

Recently, a group of Scientists from Agarkar Research Institute, Pune conducted a study in the Western Ghats and found 62 Desiccation-Vascular-Plant Species (DT Plants) that have a high significance in Agriculture and Water Conservation.

DT Plants

• These plants are characterised by the quality of tolerating the desiccation of their vegetative tissues. They are the most common residents of tropical rock outcrops.
• DT plants are able to survive high dehydration, losing up to 95% of their water content.

• Dehydration: It takes place in plants when the plant loses more water than it takes in.

Population of DT Plants

• According to the Study, the global population of these species ranges between 300 and 1,500. Out of these species that are found during the study, 16 are native to India and 12 belong to Western Ghats outcrops.

Habitation:

• They can be found in both tropical and temperate regions. When water supplies are restored, they can quickly regenerate. They are frequently found on rocky outcrops in the tropics.
• This study is very important in the recent scenario when the temperature is getting increased continuously and they are the ones that thrive in high temperatures.
• There are two widely studied mechanisms for plants in harsh environments namely Hydration and desiccation resistance.

• Hydration is a situation in which plant tissues can withstand more than 30% water content.

• As far as the location of Indian desiccation-tolerant plants are concerned, they are primarily found in forest rock outcrops and partially shaded tree trunks. Basaltic plateaus (plateaus produced by volcanic activity) and Ferricretes (a hard, erosion-resistant layer of sedimentary rock) seemed to be the preferred habitats.
• Glyphochloa ratnagirica, Glyphochloa goaensis, and Glyphochloa santapaui were found only on ferricretes (a hard, erosion-resistant layer of sedimentary rock). Rest of the species were found in both ferricretes and basaltic (plateaus produced by volcanic activity) plateaus. The dominant genus was Glyphochloa.

Characteristic:

• The DT species are characterised by colour variations and morphological characteristics. Tripogon species changed colours from greyish in dry conditions to green in hydrated situations.
• In the hydrated phase, the leaf cloud changed from green to dark purple or orange and ranged from brownish to ash in the desiccation phase in Oropetium thomaeum.
• There are various characteristics of Ferns (fronds) that comprises curling inwards towards the costa, exposing spores at the start of the dry season and during brief dry spells.
• However, this was not true for all species. For instance, in the case of Clanuginosus, the leaves folded and shrivelled inward to shield the chlorophyllous portion, avoiding direct sunlight exposure during the desiccation phase.

Significance:

• To boost climate resilience, these Plants can be used to develop a high-temperature tolerant crop variety.
• These plants have high usability in the agricultural sector, particularly in locations where water is scarce.
• The genes of these plants can be used to develop a high-temperature tolerant crop variety to boost climate resilience and ensure mass food security.

 

 

Must Check: IAS Coaching Centre In Delhi