Next Article in Journal
Zinc Finger Protein 30 Is a Novel Candidate Gene for Kernel Row Number in Maize
Previous Article in Journal
Characterization and Construction of Full-Length cDNA Infectious Clone of a Novel BCMV Isolate in Pathogroup III
Previous Article in Special Issue
Metabolic Responses to the Zinc Stress in the Roots and Leaves of Amaranthus caudatus: The Proteomics View
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Plants
Volume 14
Issue 21
10.3390/plants14213360
plants-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Defying Death: A Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Senescence in Eragrostis nindensis

by
Christine F. Madden
1,
Brett Williams
2,
Sagadevan Mundree
3,
Sébastien Acket
4,
Eric Ruelland
4,
Henk W. M. Hilhorst
1 and
Jill M. Farrant
1,*
1
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
2
School of Biology and the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
3
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
4
Unité Génie Enzymatique & Cellulaire, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, UMR CNRS 7025, F-60203 Compiègne, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3360; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213360
Submission received: 4 September 2025 / Revised: 20 October 2025 / Accepted: 23 October 2025 / Published: 2 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ‘Omics’ and ‘Multi-Omics’ Insights into Plant Responses to Abiotic Stresses)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Eragrostis nindensis is a resurrection grass capable of surviving near-complete desiccation. We compared non-senescent leaf tissue (NST) and senescent leaf tissue (ST) to investigate the cellular and molecular basis of desiccation tolerance and senescence. NST recovered fully after drying, while ST failed to regain viability. Integrated transcriptomic (using RNA-Seq), lipidomic (using LC-MS), and ultrastructural (Transmission Electron Microscopical) analyses revealed that NST maintain RNA processing, protein folding, and translational activity during desiccation. Lipidomic data and ultrastructure showed preferential accumulation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) and lipid droplets in NST, supporting membrane protection and energy buffering. In contrast, ST showed cellular collapse, reduced oleosin protein accumulation, and signatures of senescence. These findings highlight the importance of post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation, as well as lipid metabolism, in preserving cellular integrity during desiccation in this species.
Keywords: Eragrostis nindensis; desiccation tolerance; resurrection plants; senescence; RNA processing; lipid droplets; triacylglycerol; RNA sequencing Eragrostis nindensis; desiccation tolerance; resurrection plants; senescence; RNA processing; lipid droplets; triacylglycerol; RNA sequencing

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Madden, C.F.; Williams, B.; Mundree, S.; Acket, S.; Ruelland, E.; Hilhorst, H.W.M.; Farrant, J.M. Defying Death: A Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Senescence in Eragrostis nindensis. Plants 2025, 14, 3360. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213360

AMA Style

Madden CF, Williams B, Mundree S, Acket S, Ruelland E, Hilhorst HWM, Farrant JM. Defying Death: A Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Senescence in Eragrostis nindensis. Plants. 2025; 14(21):3360. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213360

Chicago/Turabian Style

Madden, Christine F., Brett Williams, Sagadevan Mundree, Sébastien Acket, Eric Ruelland, Henk W. M. Hilhorst, and Jill M. Farrant. 2025. "Defying Death: A Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Senescence in Eragrostis nindensis" Plants 14, no. 21: 3360. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213360

APA Style

Madden, C. F., Williams, B., Mundree, S., Acket, S., Ruelland, E., Hilhorst, H. W. M., & Farrant, J. M. (2025). Defying Death: A Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Senescence in Eragrostis nindensis. Plants, 14(21), 3360. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213360

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop