Distribution and Potential Uses of Halophytes within the Gulf Cooperation Council States

Al‐Azzawi, Mohammed J.; Flowers, T. J.

doi:10.3390/agronomy12051030

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…Flowers and Yeo [ 3 ] advocated the use of halophytes in seriously salt affected soils, concluding “As O’Leary [ 108 ] points out, it is the improvement of agronomic characteristics that has the history of success; the enhancement of salt resistance does not”. While there have been improvements in the salt resistance of major crops such as rice [ 109 , 110 ] and wheat [ 111 , 112 ], it remains the case that where salinity is entrenched, salt tolerant plants offer the most likely means to revegetate land and obtain useful yields of plant material whether for food, fibre or fuel, see [ 113 , 114 ] for reviews of the uses of salt-tolerant plants in agriculture. Salt-tolerant plants can also be a source of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria that may aid the growth of less salt-tolerant plants under saline conditions [ 115 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Uses of Salt-Tolerant Plants

García‐Caparrós

Al‐Azzawi

Flowers

2023

Plants

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Climate change is likely to affect the ability of world agricultural systems to provide food, fibre, and fuel for the growing world population, especially since the area of salinised land will increase. However, as few species of plants (less than 1% of all plant species) can tolerate saline soils, we believe it is important to evaluate their potential as crops for salinised soils. We have analysed the economic and potential economic uses of plants that are listed in the database eHALOPH, including the most tolerant species, halophytes. For nine main categories of economic value, we found a total of 1365 uses amongst all species listed in eHALOPH as of July 2022; this number reduced to 918 amongst halophytes. We did not find any obvious differences in rankings between the more tolerant halophytes and the whole group of salt-tolerant plants, where the order of use was medical, followed by forage, traditional medicine, food and drink, fuel, fuelwood, and bioenergy. While many species are potentially important as crops, the effects of salt concentration on their uses are much less well documented. Increasing salt concentration can increase, decrease, or have no effect on the concentration of antioxidants found in different species, but there is little evidence on the effect of salinity on potential yield (the product of concentration and biomass). The effect of salinity on forage quality again varies with species, often being reduced, but the overall consequences for livestock production have rarely been evaluated. Salt-tolerant plants have potential uses in the bioremediation of degraded land (including revegetation, phytoremediation, and extraction of NaCl) as well as sources of biofuels, although any use of saline water for the sustainable irrigation of salt-tolerant crops must be viewed with extreme caution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Uses of Salt-Tolerant Plants

García‐Caparrós

Al‐Azzawi

Flowers

2023

Plants

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“…These environmental factors ultimately determine the presence and dominance of different taxa across continents. Furthermore, high temperatures and seasonal droughts are significant factors in arid and semiarid ecosystems [ 3 , 4 ], as well as in regions influenced by a Mediterranean macrobioclimate. These climatic conditions further shape the distribution and survival of halophytes in these areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arthrocnemum Moq.: Unlocking Opportunities for Biosaline Agriculture and Improved Human Nutrition

Ramírez,

Rodríguez,

de la Fuente

2024

Plants

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(1) Background: This study provides novel insights into the elemental content and biomineralization processes of two halophytic species of the genus Arthrocnemum Moq. (A. macrostachyum and A. meridionale). (2) Methods: Elemental content was analyzed using ICP-MS, while biominerals were detected through electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X-ray diffraction. (3) Results: The elemental content showed significant concentrations of macronutrients (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) and micronutrients, especially iron. Iron was consistently found as ferritin in A. macrostachyum chloroplasts. Notably, A. macrostachyum populations from the Center of the Iberian Peninsula exhibited exceptionally high magnesium content, with values that exceeded 40,000 mg/kg d.w. Succulent stems showed elemental content consistent with the minerals identified through X-ray diffraction analysis (halite, sylvite, natroxalate, and glushinskite). Seed analysis revealed elevated levels of macro- and micronutrients and the absence of heavy metals. Additionally, the presence of reduced sodium chloride crystals in the seed edges suggested a mechanism to mitigate potential sodium toxicity. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of Arthrocnemum species as emerging edible halophytes with nutritional properties, particularly in Western European Mediterranean territories and North Africa. They offer promising prospects for biosaline agriculture and biotechnology applications.

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Translocation signatures of major elements in halophytes from hypersaline environments: the case study from Sečovlje Salina (Republic of Slovenia)

Kovač,

Hauptman,

Dolenec

et al. 2023

J Soils Sediments

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Purpose Hypersaline environments are extremely vulnerable and important ecological niches. Because much knowledge has focused on the distribution of heavy metals in these areas, the detailed behavior of key major elements in hypersaline environments has not been elucidated in detail. This research aims to define the distribution, translocation pathways, and mobility patterns of the major elements in hypersaline sediments and halophytes. Materials and methods Samples of Sarcocornia fruticosa plants were collected from evaporation (ES) and crystallization (CA) sites in the Sečovlje Salina area (Republic of Slovenia). The major element contents were measured by digestion in HNO3 then aqua regia and analyzed by ICP-MS for ultra-low detection limits. Rhizo-sediments from EA and CA were processed using sequential extraction analysis to determine the precise fractionation of Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Na. To determine the translocation patterns of individual major elements in S. fruticosa, two indices were calculated: bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation factor (TF). Differences and similarities between samples and elements were highlighted using Statistica VII and Grapher 8 statistical software and Ward’s method, respectively. Results and discussion The obtained results confirmed that halophyte plants take up large amounts of the essential micronutrient Na due to high salinity, and that macronutrients (Ca, Mg, P, and S) are intensively translocated from the roots to the upper parts of the plant. The overall trend in translocation signature for major elements, distinguished by BCF and TF factor calculations, emphasizes that root tissues accumulate a significant amount of major elements and that accumulation depends on individual major elements. It also showed that the major elements Ca, Mg, Na, P, and S are highly translocated within plants, while the mobility of Al, Fe, and K is limited. Conclusions Our results suggest that the major elements are vital macronutrients for halophytes, but their accumulation in the roots and further translocation within the plant depend on individual elements and their dynamics. The translocation pattern of the major elements can be justified as follows: Ca is an essential element for plant growth, maintenance, and membrane integrity; Mg is a specific component of chlorophyll; Na is present because of the hypersaline environment; P is a key component of plant metabolic processes; S represents an important component of enzymes and other key proteins; Al and Fe are preferentially accumulated in roots; and plant leaves are generally undersupplied with K. The presented results are of great importance for the general knowledge and use/application of halophytes in agriculture and biotechnology.

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Distribution and Potential Uses of Halophytes within the Gulf Cooperation Council States

Cited by 9 publications

References 127 publications

Economic Uses of Salt-Tolerant Plants

Economic Uses of Salt-Tolerant Plants

Arthrocnemum Moq.: Unlocking Opportunities for Biosaline Agriculture and Improved Human Nutrition

Translocation signatures of major elements in halophytes from hypersaline environments: the case study from Sečovlje Salina (Republic of Slovenia)

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