desiccation resilience index
nounPronunciation: /ˌdesɪˈkeɪʃən rɪˈzɪliəns ˈɪndeks/
A quantitative measure of a plant's capacity to survive and recover from severe water loss, integrating physiological parameters such as relative water content, membrane stability, and post-stress recovery rate. Higher indices indicate greater ability to endure and bounce back from extreme drought conditions.
Plain English
A numerical score measuring how well plants can survive extreme drying and recover afterward.
Etymology & History
Usage
"The desiccation resilience index was significantly higher in native prairie species compared to cultivated crop varieties."
Style guide notes: Specify the mathematical formula and components used when calculating this index to enable reproducibility across studies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What parameters are included in calculating desiccation resilience index?
Relative water content retention, membrane integrity, chlorophyll fluorescence recovery, and growth resumption after rehydration.
How is desiccation resilience index used in plant breeding?
It identifies genotypes with superior survival traits, enabling selection for drought-tolerant crops adapted to arid regions.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Valuable for advanced crop improvement and understanding extreme drought adaptation in wild plant relatives.
Required skill level: Senior