Hydraulic and Photosynthetic Performance of Antarctic Plants Under Successive Freeze-Thaw Cycles
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Date
2025
Authors
Vallejos, ValentinaFuentes, Francisca
Sancho Knapik, Domingo
Gago, Jorge
Ramírez, Constanza F
Rivera, Betsy K
Cavieres, Lohengrin A
Galmes, Jeroni
Peguero Pina, José Javier
Gil Pelegrín, Eustaquio
Sáez, Patricia L
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Abstract
Climate change projections predict warming and increased weather variability, mainly in polar regions, altering freeze-thaw patterns. However, the effects of rising temperatures and more frequent freeze-thaw events on the water and CO2 management of Antarctic plants remain unclear. To address this, we conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate how growth temperature (5 degrees C and 15 degrees C) and successive freeze-thaw cycles influence the hydraulic and photosynthetic performance of Deschampsia antarctica (D. antarctica) and Colobanthus quitensis (C. quitensis). Our results showed that warmer conditions improved hydraulic and photosynthetic performance in both species, driven by anatomical adjustments in leaf xylem vessels. Additionally, plants exposed to successive freeze-thaw cycles exhibited a coordinated decline in whole-plant hydraulic conductivity and leaf gas exchange, regardless of growth temperature. The magnitude of changes (%) in photosynthetic traits after freeze-thaw cycles varied between species, with D. antarctica showing similar responses at both growth temperatures, while C. quitensis experienced more pronounced changes at the lower temperature. Overall, these findings suggest that while Antarctic plants benefit from warmer temperatures, repeated freeze-thaw events could disrupt their hydraulic balance and limit photosynthesis, particularly under natural environmental conditions.
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Vallejos, V., Fuentes, F., Sancho-Knapik, D., Gago, J., Ramírez, C. F., Rivera, B. K., Cavieres, L. A., Galmés, J., Peguero-Pina, J. J., Gil-Pelegrín, E., & Sáez, P. L. (2025). Hydraulic and Photosynthetic Performance of Antarctic Plants Under Successive Freeze–Thaw Cycles. Plant, Cell & Environment, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15528
AGROVOC subjects
DeschampsiaCaryophyllaceae
Adaptación al cambio climático
Congelación
Descongelación
Fotosíntesis
Zona antártica
Other field subjects
Adaptación Al Cambio ClimáticoANTARCTIC VASCULAR PLANTS
Caryophyllaceae
Cavitation
Climate Change
Colobanthus quitensis
Congelación
Deschampsia
Deschampsia antarctica
Descongelación
DROUGH
Fotosíntesis
freeze-thaw cycles
Hydraulics
Induced Embolism
leaf anatomy
Mesophyll conductance
photosynthesi
PLASMA-MEMBRANE AQUAPORINS
Stomatal conductance
Vascular Plants
Water relations
Xylem
Zona antártica
Sponsorship
Este trabajo fue apoyado por la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) a través de los proyectos FONDECYT 1211231, ANILLO ACT-210038, EQM-210094, FB-210006, y el Instituto Antártico Chileno a través de los proyectos INACH RT_13-16 e INACH DG_09-21.