Looking at Halophytic Adaptation to High Salinity Through Genomics Landscape

Abstract

Soil salinity is an important stress factor that limits plant growth and productivity. For a given plant species, it is critical to sense and respond to salt stimuli followed by activation of multitude of mechanisms for plants to survive. Halophytes, the wonders of saline soils, have demonstrated ability to withstand and reproduce in at least 200 mM NaCl concentration, which makes them an ideal system to study mechanism of salt adaptation for imparting salt tolerance in glycophytes. Halophytes and salt sensitive glycophytes adapt different defense strategies towards salinity stress. These responses in halophytes are modulated by a well orchestrated network of signaling pathways, including calcium signaling, reactive oxygen species and phytohormones. Moreover, constitutive expression of salt stress response related genes, which is only salt inducible in glycophytes, maintains salt tolerance traits in halophytes. The focus of this review is on the adaptive considerations of halophytes through the genomics approaches from the point of view of sensing and signaling components involved in mediating plant responses to salinity.

Halophytes in biosaline agriculture: Mechanism, utilization, and value addition

“…Till date, there is no report from glycophytes demonstrating the role of sodium as osmolytes. The comparative studies indicate that the basal osmolyte levels under control conditions are significantly higher in halophytes than glycophytes, which might help them to activate better responses under salt stress conditions (Nikalje, Nikam, & Suprasanna, ). Apart from osmolytes, salt stress in halophytes also activates the synthesis of diverse range of metabolites related with signalling and abiotic stress tolerance.…”

“…These processes are controlled by cascade of molecular networks. In signal transduction mechanism, second messengers such as Ca 2+ , inositol phosphate, reactive oxygen species, and phytohormones play crucial role (Nikalje et al, ). The cellular processes such as phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, lipid metabolism, and Ca 2+ sensing are involved in signal transduction mechanism (Agarwal, Shukla, Gupta, & Jha, ).…”

“…These processes are controlled by cascade of molecular networks. In signal transduction mechanism, second messengers such as Ca 2+ , inositol phosphate, reactive oxygen species, and phytohormones play crucial role (Nikalje et al, 2017).…”

Physiological and biochemical markers for screening salt tolerant quinoa genotypes at early seedling stage

“…Face to this situation, the expansion of the limited agricultural area in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, requires the use of suitable crops or genotypes within species tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought or salinity (Koyro 2003;Koyro et al 2006;Shabala 2013;Nikalje et al 2017). Moreover, the genetic variability within species often, leads to the identification of tolerant genotypes which can also reduce the cost of saline soils reclamation and clean-up of polluted sites (Nikalje et al 2017).…”

Towards sustainable agriculture for the salt‐affected soil

“…seedlings and got two important salt‐tolerant genes (GmNHX1 and GmNcl1), providing potential base for biotechnologically breed soybean to meet salt‐resistant planting. Nikalje, Nikam, and Suprasanna (), Nikalje et al (), and Qi et al () systemically reviewed halophytes selection, related mechanism, utilization, and added value from the angle of physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology, providing insights into constructing sustainable mudflat salt‐affected agricultural ecosystem with high efficiency.…”