Males 2018 (Article) Culture, drought

Understanding the Basis of Drought Tolerance in Bromeliads

Author(s):—J. Males

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 68(1): 40-44. (2018)

Abstract:—In 2015 I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Harry E. Luther – Bromeliad Society International Scholarship to undertake a period of research at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in support of my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge (UK). My work is focussed on the water relations of the Bromeliaceae, and the interface between physiology, anatomy and evolution. During the course of my PhD, I became aware of the potential value of conducting a survey across the bromeliad family of a physiological parameter known as the turgor loss point (TLP). TLP has been increasingly recognised over recent years as a key determinant of cellular drought tolerance across plant groups.