Heat Shock Tolerance in Deschampsia antarctica Desv. Cultivated in vitro Is Mediated by Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidants

Abstract

Deschampsia antarctica Desv, is the most successful colonizing species of a cold continent. In recent years due to climate change, the frequency of heat waves has increased in Antarctica, registering anomalous high temperatures during the summer of 2020. However, the populations of D. antarctica are responding positively to these events, increasing in number and size throughout the Antarctic Peninsula. In this work, the physiological and biochemical responses of D. antarctica plants grown in vitro (15 ± 1°C) and plants subjected to two heat shock treatments (23 and 35°C) were evaluated. The results obtained show that D. antarctica grown in vitro is capable of tolerating heat shock treatments; without showing visible damage to its morphology, or changes in its oxidative state and photosynthetic performance. These tolerance responses are primarily mediated by the efficient role of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems that maintain redox balance at higher temperatures. It is postulated that these mechanisms also operate in plants under natural conditions when exposed to environmental stresses.

Can heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) serve as biomarkers in Antarctica for future ocean acidification, warming and salinity stress?

“…This shows that this low temperature adapted plant responds well to climate warming and the effects of greenhouse, which are projected to cause an increase in temperatures by several degrees and reduce sea ice and glaciers by one third (Turner et al 2014). The populations of D. antarctica showed reproductive success in warmer conditions in number and size along the Antarctic Peninsula, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Isla Robert and even in Argentine islands (Cortés-Antiquera et al 2021). Despite the negative effects of global warming on plants, D. antarctica obtained the maximum carbon dioxide assimilation rate, improving its photosynthetic performance and growth (Sáez et al 2017(Sáez et al , 2018.…”

Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system

“…Vascular plants on the Antarctic Peninsula appear to be faring better than mosses under global warming and the grass Deschampsia antarctica appears to be quite tolerant of in-vitro high temperature shock treatments [ 104 ]…”

Polish Polar Research

“…A number of studies was devoted to the influence of plants growing conditions on the content of useful compounds (van de Staaij et al 2002). Another direction of research is the introduction of the plant into in vitro culture and the investigation of the biochemical composition of the plants grown under such artificial conditions (Zahrychuk et al 2011(Zahrychuk et al , 2012Sequeida et al 2012;Cortés-Antiquera et al 2021). Cultivation of D. antarctica in vitro is expected to provide an opportunity to produce bioactive compounds under standard conditions and in the required quantity (Twardovska et al 2021).…”