Influence of salt stress on propagation, growth and nutrient uptake of typical aquatic plant species

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities and natural causes contribute to an increase in the area and degree of degraded saline wetlands in arid/semi‐arid and coastal regions. The objective of this study was to determine the salt tolerance of the seven aquatic plant species Phragmites australis, Arundo donax, Canna indica, Scirpus validus, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Phyllostachys heteroclada and Potederia cordata during asexual reproduction and continuous growth. The species were exposed to five salinity treatments from 0.3 (control) to 20 dS m−1 during a 30 day experiment. Data were collected on asexual reproduction and growth, chlorophyll content in leaves, Na+ and K+ concentrations, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in above‐ground biomass (AGB) and below‐ground biomass (BGB). The results showed that: 1) increase in salinity (especially at a salinity level of EC ≥15 dS m−1) generally inhibited the capacity for asexual reproduction and reduced the chlorophyll content of leaves; 2) total dry biomass of plants was significantly negatively related to asexual reproduction; 3) species‐specific salt tolerance mechanisms were reflected by the Na+ and K+ concentrations and Na+/K+ ratios in different parts of the plants; and 4) the absorption of TN and TP were inhibited at high salinity (i.e. EC = 20 dS m−1) in AGB and BGB of most tested plant species. However, salinity may enhance plant uptake of TN and TP under certain conditions (e.g. EC at 5, 10 and 15 dS m−1). In general, as compared to the other species tested, giant reed A. donax and alligator weed A. philoxeroides showed relatively high asexual reproduction and growth capacity under high salt stress, and these species should thus be considered as candidates for restoration of degraded saline wetlands and/or for decontaminating saline wastewater.

Effects of parental age on salt stress tolerance in an aquatic plant

“…This is particularly environmentally relevant in light of global climate change causing increased freshwater salinization (Neubauer and Craft 2009, Cañedo‐Argüelles et al 2013, Herbert et al 2015). Coping with increased salinity will lead to direct physiological challenges to many aquatic plant species (Haller et al 1974, Chen et al 2019). Our results emphasize that the impacts and outcomes of these challenges will likely interact in subtle ways with life‐history traits.…”

Evaluation of nutrient assimilative capacity in waterfowl impoundments: The role of environmental stressors

“…Such a change may also influence wetland capacity for nutrient uptake. For example, high salinity treatments (>20 dS/m) often inhibit the absorption of N and P by some aquatic plant species (Chen et al, 2019). The nontidal, estuarine wetlands of the Great Salt Lake are particularly vulnerable to the above global changes as the most downstream waters.…”

“…Such a change may also influence wetland capacity for nutrient uptake. For example, high salinity treatments (>20 dS/m) often inhibit the absorption of N and P by some aquatic plant species (Chen et al., 2019).…”

Purification effect of aquatic plant communities in constructed wetland park: a comparative experiment of Tianhe wetland park in China

“…They provide habitat for plankton and other animals and reduce the movement of sediments through a synergistic action between their roots and other microorganisms [22]. Current studies focus more on the removal efficiency of certain aquatic plants for different nutrients in water [23][24][25]. For example, for removing nitrogen in the water, wetland plants can directly absorb the inorganic nitrogen and transform it into organic nitrogen.…”