#dehydration avoidance

Summer dormancy and seasonal growth in California perennial grasses

Superior drought survival is expected to result in reduced productivity and competitive ability, but this expectation has seldom been tested in herbaceous perennial species. Balachowski et al. quantified seasonal growth, functional traits, and drought survival strategies in eight California perennial grasses. NPS photo from Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California, USA. Image:…

Drought strategies in perennial forage species

Severe droughts are expected to increase with climate change and to limit grassland perennity. Zwicke et al. investigate the plant strategies involved in drought survival and recovery of six temperate herbaceous species in semi-controlled conditions and show that cell membrane stability, which ensures dehydration tolerance of roots and meristems, is positively and negatively correlated to fructan…