Photosynthesis in desiccation tolerant plants: Energy metabolism and antioxidative stress defense

► Resurrection plants use various strategies to protect cellular integrity during desiccation. ► Photosynthesis is shutdown during desiccation and completely recovered following rehydration. ► Protection against oxidative stress during desiccation is afforded by antioxidant system. Resurrection plants are regarded as excellent models to study the mechanisms associated with desiccation tolerance. During the past years tremendous progress has been made in understanding the phenomenon of desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants, but many questions are open concerning the mechanisms enabling these plants to survive desiccation. The photosynthetic apparatus is very sensitive to reactive oxygen species mediated injury during desiccation and must be maintained or quickly repaired upon rehydration. The photosynthetic apparatus is a primary source of generating reactive oxygen species. The unique ability of plants to withstand the oxidative stress imposed by reactive oxygen species during desiccation depends on the production of antioxidants. The present review considers the overall strategies and the mechanisms involved in the desiccation tolerance in the first part and will focus on the effects on photosynthesis, energy metabolism and antioxidative stress defenses in the second part.