XVI International Botanical Congess

We determined the effects of desiccation on the degree of plasma membrane damage, recovery of membrane integrity and levels of key antioxidant enzymes for Stictosiphonia arbuscula. Specimens collected from the upper and lower limits of its' vertical distribution were desiccated for 12-96h, at relative humidities (RH) of 100 and 77%, before rehydration. At 77% RH, amino acid leakage and lipid hydroperoxide levels were initially higher for low- than high-shore specimens. However, after 12h desiccation for high- and re-submersion.