Lange, OL/ Meyer, A/ Büdel, B 1994: Net photosynthesis activation of a desiccated cyanobacterium without liquid water in high air humidity alone. Experiments with Microcoleus sociatus isolated from a desert soil crust. - Functional Ecology8: 52-57. [RLL List # 157 / Rec.# 11035] Keywords: CYANOBACTERIA/ HYDRATION/ MICROCOLEUS/ PHOTOSYNTHESIS/ SOIL CRUSTS/ WATER ABSORPTION/ WATER BALANCE/ WATER VAPOR
Abstract: 2 fig. 1 tab. [This species, as it occurs in its natural summer state in desert soil crusts, proved unable to reactivate photosynthetic metabolism solely by hydration in equilibrium with high air humidity. However, desiccated populations in lab culture attained turgor and were able to photosynthesize in equilibrium with a relative air humidity as low as 96%.]