ABSTRACT
Desiccation-tolerance (DT) is the ability to lose virtually all free intracellular water and then recover normalphysiological functions. The phenomenon of DT is present in higher plants as well as few Pteridophytes whichwithstand drying up to 10%–20% of their dry weight and still resume metabolism following rehydration.The present investigation was carried to understand the biochemical adaptations against desiccation andalso subsequent rehydration in Adiantum raddianum (AR), an omnipresent fern in the Devarayanadurgaforest region of Tumakuru district of Karnataka, India. Detached fronds from healthy AR fern were fullyhydrated, subsequently desiccated, and rehydrated under in vitro conditions. During the desiccation process,the relative water content (RWC) of detached fronds decreased to as low as 16% after 4 hours with intenseinward curving. Upon rehydration, the RWC of the desiccated fronds regained 85% of the initial water contentwithin 4 hours. The rehydrated fronds almost showed the original morphology. Furthermore, physiologicalactivities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase,lipid peroxidation, and proline increased during desiccation but sucrose and starch content showed differentialresponse. The result obtained in this study reveals that AR has desiccation-tolerant properties.