Effects of intermittent desiccation on bryophytes

Abstract

Gas exchange measurements on Rhytidiadelphus loreus and Anomodon viticulosus following re-moistening after a period of desiccation showed an initial stimulation of respiration, followed immediately by progressive recovery of photosynthesis within the first 1-6 h. A. viticulosus after 48 h dry reached the compensation point within a few minutes of re-moistening; R. loreus after 7 days dry reached the compensation point after about 4 h. Hylocomium splendens, R. loreus and Tortula ruraliformis were subjected to the following patterns of alternating wet and dry periods over a period of 18 wk: continuous dry, 1 day wet/6 days dry, 6 days wet/1 day dry, 1 day wet/1 day dry, 7 days wet/7 days dry, continuous wet. Only T. ruraliformis still attained a positive net assimilation rate after the continuous dry treatment for the duration of the experiment. All 3 spp. retained a positive net assimilation rate throughout after all the remaining treatments. A moist period of 24 h allowed substantially complete recovery from the after-effects of the preceding desiccation. Experiments in which 3 dry periods were separated by moist periods of 6 h, 24 h and 7 days showed that recovery in H. splendens and R. loreus was incomplete in 6 h but confirmed that it was complete in 24 h. H. splendens showed constant or slightly increased desiccation-tolerance in successive dry periods. R. loreus showed a well marked increase in tolerance (hardening) following a previous dry/wet cycle. The effect of intermittent desiccation can be predicted approximately from the successive effect of the individual dry periods. It is doubtful whether there is any specific deleterious effect of drying and re-moistening; any such effect that does exist can only be small.