Publication Date
1989
Description
It has long been appreciated that seed of most plant species have protoplasm that survives full air-dryness. Unfortunately, this genetic capacity for desiccation tolerance is rarely expressed in the vegetative tissues of higher plants. Before 1970, only ten flowering plants had been reported to have leaf protoplasm which could recover uninjured after becoming air-dry. In general, these were relatively rare species in families with little commercial importance. The discovery of a grass species with leaves, which were able to « revive» from air-dryness (Gaff, 1971), prompted the author to initiate a protracted search for other such desiccation tolerant grasses. This paper lists the species found and reports the findings from preliminary studies to ascertain the potential of these grasses for use in arid or drought prone areas.
Citation
Gaff, D F., "Desiccation Tolerant < Resurrection > Grasses for Dryland Areas" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 23.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13b/23
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Desiccation Tolerant < Resurrection > Grasses for Dryland Areas
It has long been appreciated that seed of most plant species have protoplasm that survives full air-dryness. Unfortunately, this genetic capacity for desiccation tolerance is rarely expressed in the vegetative tissues of higher plants. Before 1970, only ten flowering plants had been reported to have leaf protoplasm which could recover uninjured after becoming air-dry. In general, these were relatively rare species in families with little commercial importance. The discovery of a grass species with leaves, which were able to « revive» from air-dryness (Gaff, 1971), prompted the author to initiate a protracted search for other such desiccation tolerant grasses. This paper lists the species found and reports the findings from preliminary studies to ascertain the potential of these grasses for use in arid or drought prone areas.
