scholarly journals Evolution of halophytes: multiple origins of salt tolerance in land plants

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Flowers ◽  
Hanaa K. Galal ◽  
Lindell Bromham

The evolution of salt tolerance is interesting for several reasons. First, since salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) employ several different mechanisms to deal with salt, the evolution of salt tolerance represents a fascinating case study in the evolution of a complex trait. Second, the diversity of mechanisms employed by halophytes, based on processes common to all plants, sheds light on the way that a plant’s physiology can become adapted to deal with extreme conditions. Third, as the amount of salt-affected land increases around the globe, understanding the origins of the diversity of halophytes should provide a basis for the use of novel species in bioremediation and conservation. In this review we pose the question, how many times has salt tolerance evolved since the emergence of the land plants some 450–470 million years ago? We summarise the physiological mechanisms underlying salt-tolerance and provide an overview of the number and diversity of salt-tolerant terrestrial angiosperms (defined as plants that survive to complete their life cycle in at least 200 mM salt). We consider the evolution of halophytes using information from fossils and phylogenies. Finally, we discuss the potential for halophytes to contribute to agriculture and land management and ask why, when there are naturally occurring halophytes, it is proving to be difficult to breed salt-tolerant crops.

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesper T. Pedersen ◽  
Michael Palmgren

The purpose of this minireview is to discuss the feasibility of creating a new generation of salt-tolerant plants that express Na+/K+-ATPases from animals or green algae. Attempts to generate salt-tolerant plants have focussed on increase the expression of or introducing salt stress-related genes from plants, bryophytes and yeast. Even though these approaches have resulted in plants with increased salt tolerance, plant growth is decreased under salt stress and often also under normal growth conditions. New strategies to increase salt tolerance are therefore needed. Theoretically, plants transformed with an animal-type Na+/K+-ATPase should not only display a high degree of salt tolerance but should also reduce the stress response exhibited by the first generation of salt-tolerant plants under both normal and salt stress conditions. The biological feasibility of such a strategy of producing transgenic plants that display improved growth on saline soil but are indistinguishable from wild-type plants under normal growth conditions, is discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-65
Author(s):  
MH Kabir ◽  
MM Islam ◽  
SN Begum ◽  
AC Manidas

A cross was made between high yielding salt susceptible BINA variety (Binadhan-5) with salt tolerant rice landrace (Harkuch) to identify salt tolerant rice lines. Thirty six F3 rice lines of Binadhan-5 x Harkuch were tested for salinity tolerance at the seedling stage in hydroponic system using nutrient solution. In F3 population, six lines were found as salt tolerant and 10 lines were moderately tolerant based on phenotypic screening at the seedling stage. Twelve SSR markers were used for parental survey and among them three polymorphic SSR markers viz., OSR34, RM443 and RM169 were selected to evaluate 26 F3 rice lines for salt tolerance. With respect to marker OSR34, 15 lines were identified as salt tolerant, 9 lines were susceptible and 2 lines were heterozygous. While RM443 identified 3 tolerant, 14 susceptible and 9 heterozygous rice lines. Eight tolerant, 11 susceptible and 7 heterozygous lines were identified with the marker RM169. Thus the tested markers could be efficiently used for tagging salt tolerant genes in marker-assisted breeding programme.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v19i2.16929 Progress. Agric. 19(2): 57 - 65, 2008


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.R. Foolad ◽  
G.Y. Lin

Seed of 42 wild accessions (Plant Introductions) of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Jusl., 11 cultigens (cultivated accessions) of L. esculentum Mill., and three control genotypes [LA716 (a salt-tolerant wild accession of L. pennellii Corr.), PI 174263 (a salt-tolerant cultigen), and UCT5 (a salt-sensitive breeding line)] were evaluated for germination in either 0 mm (control) or 100 mm synthetic sea salt (SSS, Na+/Ca2+ molar ratio equal to 5). Germination time increased in response to salt-stress in all genotypes, however, genotypic variation was observed. One accession of L. pimpinellifolium, LA1578, germinated as rapidly as LA716, and both germinated more rapidly than any other genotype under salt-stress. Ten accessions of L. pimpinellifolium germinated more rapidly than PI 174263 and 35 accessions germinated more rapidly than UCT5 under salt-stress. The results indicate a strong genetic potential for salt tolerance during germination within L. pimpinellifolium. Across genotypes, germination under salt-stress was positively correlated (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) with germination in the control treatment. The stability of germination response at diverse salt-stress levels was determined by evaluating germination of a subset of wild, cultivated accessions and the three control genotypes at 75, 150, and 200 mm SSS. Seeds that germinated rapidly at 75 mm also germinated rapidly at 150 mm salt. A strong correlation (r = 0.90, P < 0.01) existed between the speed of germination at these two salt-stress levels. At 200 mm salt, most accessions (76%) did not reach 50% germination by 38 days, demonstrating limited genetic potential within Lycopersicon for salt tolerance during germination at this high salinity.


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