V. Kalaiarasi’s research while affiliated with St. Xavier's College (Autonomous) and other places

To better understand the mechanism of desiccation tolerance of resurrection fern allies Selaginella wightii Hieron and Selaginella involvens (S.W.) Spring, the present study was planned to compare the quantitative profile of photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids, amino acids, proline, protein, IAA and non reducing sugar content of desiccated, rehydrated and fresh samples of Selaginella wightii Hieron and Selaginella involvens (S.W.) Spring. The variation of photosynthetic pigments, amino acids, proline, protein, indole acetic acid (IAA) and reducing sugar content of desiccated and rehydrated samples of S. wightii and S. involvens were estimated using the standard procedure. The ten months dehydrated samples of S. wightii and S. involvens showed high concentration of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins, amino acids, proline and IAA. The observed biochemical results confirm the resurrection and desiccation tolerant potential of Selaginella wightii Hieron and Selaginella involvens (S.W.) Spring. The observed chlorophyll results suggested that the studied two fern allies are homoiochlorophyllous plants. The reducing sugar content was high in fresh samples and low amount in the ten months dehydrated samples of S. wightii and S. involvens. It may be due to the conversion of reducing sugar to non-reducing sugar to tolerate the desiccation. The biochemical composition change confirms the resurrection potential of S. wightii and S. involvens.