Desiccation Stress Triggers Cell Wall Folding and Biochemical Remodeling in the Resurrection Plant Boea hygrometrica
John Moore (South Africa)1; Xiaohua Wang (China)2; Ling Tang (China)2 3; Yu Gao (China)1 4; Tao Xu (China)2; Jonatan Fangel (Denmark)5; William Willats (UK)6; Runze Sun (China)2; Xin Deng (China)2;
1 - South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; 2 - Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; 3 - University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; 4 - School of Food & Wine, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China; 5 - Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; 6 - School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom;
Keywords: Desiccation; Resurrection; Acclimation;
Abstract Topics: Theme 9: Cell Wall Function and Signaling in plant adaptation to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
Type of Presentation: Oral Communication

Abstract text: The resurrection plant Boea hygrometrica exhibits a remarkable capacity to withstand extreme water loss and is widely used as a model for investigating plant desiccation tolerance. Desiccation-tolerant plants possess a conserved suite of cellular mechanisms that minimise damage during dehydration and subsequent rehydration. One such strategy involves controlled folding of the cell wall, which preserves plasma membrane–cell wall adhesion during water loss and thereby prevents cell rupture and death. Despite its importance, the molecular basis of cell wall folding remains poorly understood. This study investigated dehydration-induced morphological and biochemical changes in the cell walls of resurrection and non-resurrection plants. Pronounced cell wall structural alterations were observed in the resurrection plant but were absent in the non-resurrection species. Polysaccharide composition, assessed using monoclonal antibodies with CoMPP arrays, found changes in epitope abundance in response to dehydration. Furthermore, significant differences in both monosaccharide and polysaccharide profiles were detected among non-acclimated, acclimating, and acclimated B. hygrometrica plants. Gene expression analyses revealed differential regulation of multiple cell wall–associated pathways during dehydration acclimation. Collectively, these findings underscore the central role of the cell wall in dehydration stress responses and identify potential targets for enhancing drought tolerance in plants.