Fine Structural Changes in the Leaves of the Desiccation-Tolerant Plant Talbotia elegans during Extreme Water Stress

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Abstract
T. (Vellozia) elegans Balf. (Velloziaceae) is a desiccation-tolerant angiosperm that retains chlorophyll during drying, although this may be masked by anthocyanins that accumulate in the leaves as water stress is imposed. Under laboratory conditions, complete drying is achieved in 10-14 days, and the plant retains its viability. During desiccation, leaf width is reduced by approximately one-half, and the leaves fold over along the major midrib; complex changes occur in the chloroplast and other organelles. When desiccation is complete, the only easily recognizable organelles are open stacks of membrane-bound thylakoids, mitochondria with few cristae, nuclei with granular contents, and membrane-bound vacuoles. Dimethylsulphoxide in aqueous fixatives, to match the water content of the dry plant with that of the fixative, shows better preservation of fine structure than dry tissue fixed in total aqueous fixatives.