Understanding physiological and molecular adaptations of three diverse halophytic grasses under saline and sodic stresses Lata Charu1,2, Kumar Ashwani1,*, Kumar Naresh1,3, Kaur Gurpreet1, Rani Sulekha4, Mann Anita1 1ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India 2ICAR-IIWBR, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla-171002, India 3Eternal University, Baru Sahib-173101, India 4Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136118, India *Corresponding author e-mail: ashwani.kumar1@icar.gov.in
Online published on 20 September, 2023. Abstract Physiological and biochemical analyses of three halophytes were conducted to explore their tolerance and phytoremediation potential. The halophytes Urochondra setulos a, Sporobolus marginatus and Leptochloa fusca were categorised based on gas exchange attributes, antioxidant system, biomass production under soil salinity (E Ce 30–50 dS/m) and sodicity (pH 9.5–10). L. fusca and S. marginatus produced slightly higher biomass under the sodic condition of pH 9.5, while in U. setulosa, it increased under salinity stress. Under sodic conditions, L. fusca showed less reduction in potassium content and maintained a higher K+/Na+ ratio in their leaf tissues. Amaximum decrease in net photosynthesis was observed in L. fusca (28.55%) at ECe ~ 50 dS m −1 while minimum in S. marginatus (13.73%) at pH ~ 10.0. Comparatively, U. setulosa showed higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rate than L. fusca and S. marginatus. At the highest pH and salinity, the antioxidant activities of enzymes APX, SOD, GR and POX increased in all three halophytes. Quantitative expression of MnSOD NHX1, and FuSOS1 genes in all three halophytes increased with salt stresses. Based on these indicators, these halophytes were categorised as salt-tolerant or alkaline-stress-tolerant. Top Keywords Antioxidant, Gas exchange, Gene expression, Leptochloa fusca, Sporobolus marginatus, Urochondra setulosa. Top |