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Maintenance of photosynthesis and the antioxidant defence systems have key roles for survival of Halopeplis perfoliata ( Amaranthaceae ) in a saline environment
Author(s) -
Rasool S. G.,
Gulzar S.,
Hameed A.,
Edwards G. E.,
Khan M. A.,
Gul B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.13033
Subject(s) - halophyte , salinity , photosynthesis , biology , shoot , botany , horticulture , ecology
Coastal salt marsh plants employ various combinations of morphological and physiological adaptations to survive under saline conditions. Little information is available on salinity tolerance mechanisms of Halopeplis perfoliata , a C3 stem succulent halophyte. We investigated the growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defence mechanisms of H. perfoliata under saline conditions (0, 150, 300 and 600 mM NaCl) in an open greenhouse. Optimal shoot succulence, projected shoot area and relative growth rate were obtained in the low (150 m m NaCl) salinity treatment, while growth was inhibited at the highest salinity (600 m m NaCl). The CO 2 compensation point and carbon isotope composition of biomass confirmed C 3 photosynthesis. Increases in salinity did not affect the photosynthetic pigment content or maximum quantum efficiency of PSII of H. perfoliata . Assimilation of CO 2 ( A ) also remained unaffected by salinity. A modest effect on some gas exchange and photochemistry parameters was observed at 600 m m NaCl. With increasing salinity, there was a continual increase in respiration, suggesting utilisation of energy to cope with saline conditions. Under 300 and 600 m m NaCl, there was an increase in H 2 O 2 and MDA with a concomitant rise in AsA, GR content and CAT activity. Hence, H. perfoliata appears to be an obligate halophyte that can grow up to seawater salinities by modulating photosynthetic gas exchange, photochemistry and the antioxidant defence systems.