Freeze avoidance: A dehydrating moss gathers no ice

Thomas Lenné*, Gary Bryant, Charles H. Hocart, Cheng X. Huang, Marilyn C. Ball

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    49 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Using cryo-SEM with EDX fundamental structural and mechanical properties of the moss Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. were studied in relation to tolerance of freezing temperatures. In contrast to more complex plants, no ice accumulated within the moss during the freezing event. External ice induced desiccation with the response being a function of cell type; water-filled hydroid cells cavitated and were embolized at -4 °C while parenchyma cells of the inner cortex exhibited cytorrhysis, decreasing to ∼20% of their original volume at a nadir temperature of -20 °C. Chlorophyll fluorescence showed that these winter acclimated mosses displayed no evidence of damage after thawing from -20 °C while GCMS showed that sugar concentrations were not sufficient to confer this level of freezing tolerance. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry showed internal ice nucleation occurred in hydrated moss at ∼-12 °C while desiccated moss showed no evidence of freezing with lowering of nadir temperature to -20 °C. Therefore the rapid dehydration of the moss provides an elegantly simple solution to the problem of freezing; remove that which freezes.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1731-1741
    Number of pages11
    JournalPlant, Cell and Environment
    Volume33
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Freeze avoidance: A dehydrating moss gathers no ice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this