Abstract
This multi-author book gives a comprehensive account of desiccation and plant survival, and of how plant cells deal with extreme water stress. There is a general introduction on desiccation, and then four sections dealing with: The technical background to desiccation studies; the frequency and levels of dehydration stress tolerance in biological systems; mechanisms of damage and tolerance; and a brief retrospect and prospect. Orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, pollen and spores, vegetative parts, and other plant tissues are covered in detail.